title: Monitoring Pharmacy Student Adherence to World Health Organization Hand Hygiene Indications Using Radio Frequency Identification.
abstract: Objective. To assess and improve student adherence to hand hygiene indications using radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled hand hygiene stations and performance report cards. Design. Students volunteered to wear RFID-enabled hospital employee nametags to monitor their adherence to hand-hygiene indications. After training in World Health Organization (WHO) hand hygiene methods and indications, student were instructed to treat the classroom as a patient care area. Report cards illustrating individual performance were distributed via e-mail to students at the middle and end of each 5-day observation period. Students were eligible for individual and team prizes consisting of Starbucks gift cards in $5 increments. Assessment. A hand hygiene station with an RFID reader and dispensing sensor recorded the nametag nearest to the station at the time of use. Mean frequency of use per student was 5.41 (range: 2-10). Distance between the student's seat and the dispenser was the only variable significantly associated with adherence. Student satisfaction with the system was assessed by a self-administered survey at the end of the study. Most students reported that the system increased their motivation to perform hand hygiene as indicated. Conclusion. The RFID-enabled hand hygiene system and benchmarking reports with performance incentives was feasible, reliable, and affordable. Future studies should record video to monitor adherence to the WHO 8-step technique.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.affiliation: Wegmans School of Pharmacy, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Gabriela C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Cipriano
authors.affiliation: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsouri
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Jill E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lavigne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057233:Radio Frequency Identification Device / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Infection control; World Health Organization; architectural intentional design; benchmarking; hand hygiene; pay for performance; pharmacy practice; radio frequency identification