title: The Hawthorne Effect in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology.
abstract: The Hawthorne Effect is a prevalent observer effect that causes behavioral changes among participants of epidemiological studies or infection control interventions. The purpose of the review is to describe the origins of the Hawthorne Effect, to understand the term in relation to current scientific literature, to describe characteristics of the Hawthorne effect, and to discuss methods to quantify and overcome limitations associated with the Hawthorne Effect.
authors.affiliation: 1Program for Infection Prevention and Epidemiology,Duke University Medical Center,Durham,North Carolina.
authors.forename: Luke F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: 4Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation,Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System,Iowa City,Iowa.
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Vander Weg
authors.affiliation: 7Department of Organizational Behavior and Strategy,Kenan-Flagler Business School,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,Chapel Hill,North Carolina.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.affiliation: 4Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation,Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System,Iowa City,Iowa.
authors.forename: Heather Schacht
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Reisinger
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*