Effect of Internet+ hand hygiene management model on the hand hygiene compliance of medical staff

Objective To explore the effect of the Internet technology′s application on the hand hygiene compliance of medical staff. Methods Establishing Internet+ hand hygiene management model to implement Internet based hand hygiene supervisory and reminding, Internet based hand hygiene publicity and education, and Internet based hand hygiene feedback and communication. This model was applied in Guangdong Provincial Dermatology Hospital to intervene the hand hygiene related activities. Before and after the intervention, the hand hygiene compliance of medical staff in the trial hospital was observed with WHO hand hygiene monitoring table by directly manual observation. Thereafter, the changes of hand hygiene compliance before and after the intervention were compared based on the statistical analysis of test results. Results With the application of Internet+ hand hygiene management model, the hand hygiene compliance of medical staff increased from 41.75% (324/776) before the intervention to 72.14% (554/768) after the intervention, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=145.264, P<0.01). The hand hygiene compliance of both doctors and nurses was significantly increased (doctors: χ2=94.784, P<0.01; nurses: χ2=58.798, P<0.01). In all the five indications, i.e., before patient care, before an aseptic task, after exposure to blood/body fluids, after patient care, and after environmental contact, the hand hygiene compliance was 35.42%(68/192), 63.33%(38/60), 84.38%(54/64), 44.83%(130/290), and 20.00%(34/170) respectively before the intervention; it was 65.38%(102/156), 83.33%(120/144), 95.45%(105/110), 68.52%(148/216), and 55.63%(79/142) after the intervention; and the difference before and after the intervention was statistically significant (χ2=6.305-42.529; P<0.01 or 0.05). Most of the medical staff of the trial department supported this model. Conclusions Internet+ hand hygiene management model could significantly improve the hand hygiene compliance of medical staff and were very popular. And, the model is worth of application in more hospitals. Key words: Hand hygiene; Compliance; Internet+; Hospital infection control