title: Assessing patient awareness of proper hand hygiene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors hypothesized that patients may not understand the forms of effective hand hygiene employed in the hospital environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple studies demonstrate the importance of hand hygiene in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Extensive research about how to improve compliance has been conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' perceptions of proper hand hygiene were evaluated when caregivers used soap and water, waterless hand cleaner, or a combination of these.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed, but many patients reported they did not notice whether their providers cleaned their hands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educating patients and their caregivers about the protection afforded by proper, consistent hand hygiene practices is important.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Engaging patients to monitor healthcare workers may increase compliance, reduce the spread of infection, and lead to better overall patient outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed a need to investigate the effects of patient education on patient perceptions of hand hygiene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study appear to indicate a need to focus on patient education and the differences between soap and water versus alcohol-based hand sanitizers as part of proper hand hygiene. Researchers could be asking: "Why have patients not been engaged as members of the healthcare team who have the most to lose?"
authors: At AnMed Health in Anderson, S.C., Sunni R. Busby is nurse manager of the orthopedics unit, Bryan Kennedy is director of nursing in the medical-surgical division, and Heather A. Thompson is the acting nurse manager and Jan W. Jones is a staff nurse, both in the adult medical unit. Stephanie C. Davis is the graduate coordinator and an associate professor of nursing at Clemson University School of Nursing in Clemson, S.C.
authors: Sunni R
authors: SR
authors: Busby
authors: Bryan
authors: B
authors: Kennedy
authors: Stephanie C
authors: SC
authors: Davis
authors: Heather A
authors: HA
authors: Thompson
authors: Jan W
authors: JW
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations