Awareness And Compliance Of Hand Hygiene Among Lab Personnel In A Tertiary Care Hospital In South India

Abstract

Introduction: Health care personnel’s hands act as a means for transmission of health care associated infection. The present study aims
to assess regarding the awareness and compliance of the lab personnel towards Hand hygeine.
Materials and Methods: A total of 36 Lab personnel were included in the study. Knowledge regarding awareness and attitude regarding
hand hygiene was assessed by a questionnaire. The Hygeine practices were observed for one week. The lab personnel were emphasized
regarding the importance of hand Hygeine by demonstrations and Audio visual aids (intervention) followed by assessment of the
compliance of hand hygiene for missed moments was observed .The data was analyzed for statistical significance before and after
demonstrations.
Results: A total of 36 lab technicians were included in the study. All the 36 (100%) of the participant said that they will perform hand
wash before leaving lab, 24 (66.66 %) of them always performed hand washing after removing apron. The most frequently observed
moment of hand hygiene was before leaving the lab and missed moment was before touching a clean surface. Before intervention hand
hygiene compliance was 64.86%. Post intervention compliance rate was 73.9% during the first week and 82.14% during second
week. The compliance of hand Hygeine before and after intervention was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Health care facility must ensure that hand hygiene to protect the patients and indirectly minimize cross infections. Repeated
training programs and can bring about changes in the attitude and practices in turn leading onto decrease in nosocomial infections.