title: Evaluating the effectiveness of real-time feedback on the bedside hand hygiene behaviors of nursing students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional hand hygiene teaching methods lack long-term effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal, within-subject design explored the influence of real-time hand microbe feedback and a critical-thinking decision exercise on nursing student hand hygiene behaviors. In three community hospitals, the students' (n = 68) hand swabs were tested for normal flora, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus at three time points. Students completed the Partnering to Heal (PTH) online exercise on hospital-acquired infection prevention decisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal flora colony counts decreased across the semester and MRSA-positive cultures increased in frequency and colony counts. MRSA-positive cultures were not associated with caring for patients in isolation precautions. Significantly higher colony counts were noted in the students who completed the PTH than those who did not complete the PTH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study explores innovative pedagogy bringing the nonvisible microbial risk to the consciousness of nursing students in an attempt to change hand hygiene behaviors.
authors.forename: Lora K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: Vida R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Irani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003657:Decision Making; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000068156:Formative Feedback; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D063373:Hand Hygiene; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*