title: Quantitative impact of direct, personal feedback on hand hygiene technique.
abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness of targeting hand hygiene technique using a new training device that provides objective, personal and quantitative feedback. One hundred and thirty-six healthcare workers in three Hungarian hospitals participated in a repetitive hand hygiene technique assessment study. Ultraviolet (UV)-labelled hand rub was used at each event, and digital images of the hands were subsequently taken under UV light. Immediate objective visual feedback was given to participants, showing missed areas on their hands. The rate of inadequate hand rubbing reduced from 50% to 15% (P < 0.001). However, maintenance of this reduced rate is likely to require continuous use of the electronic equipment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Research and Techniques, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Á
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Lehotsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Control Engineering and Information Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary; Computational Intelligence Research Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, Sapientia University of Transylvania, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania. Electronic address: lalo@ms.sapientia.ro.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szilágyi
authors.affiliation: Physiological Controls Group, University Research and Innovation Center, John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferenci
authors.affiliation: Physiological Controls Group, University Research and Innovation Center, John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.affiliation: Physiological Controls Group, University Research and Innovation Center, John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pethes
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Research and Techniques, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wéber
authors.affiliation: Antal Bejczy Centre for Intelligent Robotics, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary; Austrian Centre for Medical Innovation and Technology, Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haidegger
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005246:Feedback; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: Hand hygiene; Hospital-acquired infections; Infection control; User feedback