RT Journal
A1 Longtin Y, Farquet N, Gayet-Ageron A, Sax H, Pittet D
T1 CAregivers' perceptions of patients as reminders to improve hand hygiene
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD October 22
VO 172
IS 19
SP 1516
OP 1517
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3641
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3641
AB 
Hand hygiene is widely regarded as the most important measure to prevent health care–associated infections and limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance,1- 2 but health care worker (HCW) compliance remains low.2 Successful strategies to improve compliance result from a combination of multiple components, including system change, training, and education of HCWs; observation and performance feedback; reminders in the workplace; and the institution of a safety climate.2- 3 A promising, albeit less explored, avenue is to encourage patients to remind HCWs to perform hand hygiene before caring for them.4 This strategy has been recommended by a large number of organizations and authorities worldwide, including the World Health Organization2 and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.5 However, very little is known about HCWs' views of such programs.4 We surveyed a sample of HCWs to investigate the degree to which they wish to be reminded by patients to perform hand hygiene and to identify sociodemographic variables and beliefs influencing their views.