Maura P Smiddy1, Rhona O' Connell2, Sile A Creedon2. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: m.smiddy@ucc.ie. 2. Catherine McCauley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acquisition of a health care-associated infection is a substantial risk to patient safety. When health care workers comply with hand hygiene guidelines, it reduces this risk. Despite a growing body of qualitative research in this area, a review of the qualitative literature has not been published. METHODS: A systematic review of the qualitative literature. RESULTS: The results were themed by the factors that health care workers identified as contributing to their compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. Contributing factors were conceptualized using a theoretical background. This review of the qualitative literature enabled the researchers to take an inductive approach allowing for all factors affecting the phenomenon of interest to be explored. Two core concepts seem to influence health care workers' compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. These are motivational factors and perceptions of the work environment. Motivational factors are grounded in behaviorism, and the way in which employees perceive their work environment relates to structural empowerment. CONCLUSION: Noncompliance with hand hygiene guidelines remains a collective challenge that requires researchers to adopt a consistent and standardized approach. Theoretical models should be used intentionally to better explain the complexities of hand hygiene.
BACKGROUND: Acquisition of a health care-associated infection is a substantial risk to patient safety. When health care workers comply with hand hygiene guidelines, it reduces this risk. Despite a growing body of qualitative research in this area, a review of the qualitative literature has not been published. METHODS: A systematic review of the qualitative literature. RESULTS: The results were themed by the factors that health care workers identified as contributing to their compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. Contributing factors were conceptualized using a theoretical background. This review of the qualitative literature enabled the researchers to take an inductive approach allowing for all factors affecting the phenomenon of interest to be explored. Two core concepts seem to influence health care workers' compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. These are motivational factors and perceptions of the work environment. Motivational factors are grounded in behaviorism, and the way in which employees perceive their work environment relates to structural empowerment. CONCLUSION: Noncompliance with hand hygiene guidelines remains a collective challenge that requires researchers to adopt a consistent and standardized approach. Theoretical models should be used intentionally to better explain the complexities of hand hygiene.
Authors: David Russell; Dawn W Dowding; Margaret V McDonald; Victoria Adams; Robert J Rosati; Elaine L Larson; Jingjing Shang Journal: Am J Infect Control Date: 2018-06-14 Impact factor: 2.918
Authors: Maura P Smiddy; Olive M Murphy; Eileen Savage; Anthony P Fitzgerald; Brenda O' Sullivan; Catriona Murphy; Margaret Bernard; John P Browne Journal: J Infect Prev Date: 2019-04-02
Authors: Saad Alhumaid; Abbas Al Mutair; Zainab Al Alawi; Murtadha Alsuliman; Gasmelseed Y Ahmed; Ali A Rabaan; Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq; Awad Al-Omari Journal: Antimicrob Resist Infect Control Date: 2021-06-03 Impact factor: 4.887