Self-assessment of hand hygiene compliance by health professionals in neonatal intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant threat to patients' safety and have proven to be the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity which contributes to a tremendous burden in healthcare organizations. However, these infections may be preventable through hand hygiene (HH) since most outbreaks of infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are closely related to lack of hand hygiene compliance culture among Healthcare workers.Methods: The researcher conducted a descriptive quantitative, cross sectional study on self-assessment of hand hygiene compliance by health professionals in a tertiary-level, neonatal intensive-care unit in Saudi Arabia. A self-administrative questionnaire was used in this study in order to gain in-depth information about hand hygiene compliance among 172 Health professionals (HPs) working in NICU. This was the total population therefore no sampling was done. All HPs working in NICU were requested to voluntarily to take part in the study. The researcher obtained a consent for conducting the study through Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University and from the Institutional Review Board of the organisation.Results: The theory of planned behaviour was used as a lens for analysis in this study. The findings indicated that there was an identified deficit perceived in self-assessment of HPs working in NICU about their non-compliance to hand hygiene as a method to reduce HAIs. The attitude and perceptions of hand hygiene practices influenced the outcomes of hand hygiene practices. It is therefore suggested that there should be increased awareness about the importance of hand hygiene in reducing HAIs among patients in NICU and to increase patients' safety.Conclusion: There should be continuous reinforcement of hand hygiene compliance culture to all HPs in NICU so as to reduce infant mortality and morbidity and to enhance patients' safety. There should be zero tolerance for not adhering to recommendations of five moments of hand hygiene and principles that enhance hand hygiene compliance culture. Since deviation from the recommended practice may result in a compromised patient safety position. Healthcare organisations should implement a periodic review of guidelines related to hand hygiene compliance culture and should introduce innovative methods that may enhance hand hygiene compliance by all HPs.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University