Discrepancy in perceptions regarding patient participation in hand hygiene between patients and health care workers.
BACKGROUND
Patient participation in hand hygiene programs is regarded as an important component of hand hygiene improvement, but the feasibility of the program is still largely unknown. We examined the perceptions of patients/families and health care workers (HCWs) with regard to patient participation in hand hygiene.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of patients/families as well as physicians and nurses was performed using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire in a 1,000-bed teaching hospital in South Korea.


RESULTS
A total of 152 physicians, 387 nurses, and 334 patients/families completed the survey. The overall response rate was 84%, 85%, and more than 60% among physicians, nurses, and patients/families, respectively. Whereas 75% of patients/families wished to ask HCWs to clean their hands if they did not do so themselves, only 26% of physicians and 31% of nurses supported the participation of patients (P < .001). The most common reason why HCWs disagreed with patient participation was concern about negative effects on their relationship with patients (54%). Regarding the method of patient involvement, patients preferred to assess hand hygiene performance, whereas physicians preferred patients to ask directly.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant discrepancy in perceptions regarding patient participation between patients/families and HCWs. Enhanced understanding and acceptance of any new program by both patients and HCWs before its introduction are needed for successful implementation.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Infectious Diseases, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Min-Kyung
MK
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Eun Young
EY
Nam
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sun Hee
SH
Na
Infection Control Office, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Myoung-Jin
MJ
Shin
Department of Nursing, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Sook
HS
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Nak-Hyun
NH
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Infectious Diseases, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Chung-Jong
CJ
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Infectious Diseases, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Kyoung-Ho
KH
Song
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Pyoeng Gyun
PG
Choe
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Wan Beom
WB
Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Hwan
JH
Bang
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Infectious Diseases, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Eu Suk
ES
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sang Won
SW
Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Nam Joong
NJ
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Myoung-Don
MD
Oh
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Infectious Diseases, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea; Infection Control Office, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hbkimmd@snu.ac.kr.
Hong Bin
HB
Kim
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Hand disinfection; Health care-associated infection; Patient empowerment; Physician-patient relation