Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to measure the HH compliance among health care workers (HCWs) in intensive care units at Beni-Suef university hospital, Egypt before and after an intervention program.
Methods: Data were collected by direct observation of HCWs, using the standardized WHO method for direct observation ‘‘Five moments for HH’’ approach. Observations were conducted before (March to April 2017) and after (July to August 2017). The study included 608 opportunities (observations) collected before and 673 opportunities collected after the intervention.
Results: Overall, HH compliance increased significantly from 30.9 (95% CI: 27.2-34.6%) before intervention to 69.5 (95% CI: 65.2-72.6%) post intervention. HH compliance rate among nurses was significantly higher compared with compliance of physicians and other HCWs (P = 0.001). HH compliance rates after body fluid exposure, before aseptic procedures, and after patient contact were significantly higher compared with compliance rates before patient contact and after patient surrounding contact (P=0.001). In logistic regression analyses, there was a statistically significance for compliance of HH among events of before and after patient contact (OR = 1.399, 95% CI: 1.004–1.948) P=0.047.
Conclusions: The educational programs improved the HH compliance among HCWs in the intensive care units at Beni-Suef university hospital. The hospital should conduct continuous monitoring in observing the monthly trend of the units and sharing the findings to spread best practices. It is important to provide sustained intensified training programs to help efficient and effective HH into all elements of care delivery.