Perceived and Actual Hand Hygiene Compliance Among Health Care Workers in Hemodialysis Units at Governmental Hospitals in Gaza Strip
[1]
Ashraf Yaqoub Eljedi, Faculty of Nursing, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
[2]
Raid Nasser Kashkash, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Health, Gaza strip, Palestine.
Health care associated infections is the most common cause of hospitalization and the second most common cause of mortality among hemodialysis patients after cardiovascular disease. Health care workers' hands are the more frequent carriers for the responsible microorganisms. Hand hygiene (HH) is considered as one of the most important infection prevention and control procedure. Aim: This study aimed to assess perceived and actual hand hygiene compliance among health care workers in hemodialysis units in Gaza strip. Methodology: All physicians and nurses working in hemodialysis units in Gaza Strip and meets the eligibility criteria were included in a cross sectional design study. They were 58 nurses and 20 physicians. Data were collected by validated self-administered questionnaire to assess the perceived hand hygiene compliance and validated observational checklist to assess the actual HH practice of the health care workers. In total, 77 questionnaires and 228 practice observational checklists were collected with response rate of 98%. Results: The perceived HH compliance among participants was insufficient (72.5% ± 15.4). The total mean score for physicians was 69.44% while for nurses was 74.11%. The average score of the observed and actual HH practice was lower (52.2% ± 14.2). The observational checklist revealed that only 5.3% of physicians and 12.3% of nurses wash their hands before contacting with patients. There were no statistically significant differences among nurses and physicians in perceived and actual HH compliance (P=0.367 and P=0.812 respectively). Only 20.8% of the study participants (15.8% of physicians, 22.4% of nurses) received education and training sessions on HH protocol. Conclusion: The study revealed critical low levels of perceived and actual HH compliance among both nurses and physicians. There is an urgent need to adopt a Palestinian Infection Prevention and Control protocol for hemodialysis unit; to implement a continuous education and training programs for health care workers; and to activate the monitoring and supervision role of auditing system to improve health care providers’ compliance with HH protocol.
Perceived Hand Hygiene, Actual Hand Hygiene, Compliance, Health Care Workers, Hemodialysis Units
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