Description
Assessment DescriptionOne way to disseminate evidence is through presentation to your peers. For this assignment, you will develop a PowerPoint presentation and present it using Loom. Refer to the topic Resources for additional information and instructions for using Loom.The PowerPoint presentation should include 12-15 slides that can be presented in 7-10 minutes.Your presentation will cover all of all the major areas of your EBP Project proposal. Use your project proposal sections as your guide. You will be assessed on both your subject knowledge and presentation skills (including body language, eye contact, evidence of preparation, content, clear articulation, and adherence to the 7-10-minute time limit).After recording your Loom video, copy and paste the link for your video onto a Word document. Submit only the Word document with the link to the assignment dropbox.
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Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) due to Inadequate Hand Hygiene Compliance
Antwanetta Boswell
HCA-650
Grand Canyon University
Professor Tucker
09/08/2023
2
Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) due to Inadequate Hand Hygiene Compliance
Identify the Problem: Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) due to inadequate Hand Hygiene
Compliance.
Background and Significance:
Our healthcare organization has identified a significant issue related to acquired
Infections (HAIs). HAIs significantly threaten patient safety and contribute to increased
healthcare expenses. According to the CDC, 1 out of 31 hospital patients has at least one
healthcare-associated infection. It further outlines that there are numerous HAIs, including
Surgical Site Infections (SSI), Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI),
Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), and Ventilator-associated Pneumonia
(VAP). Neumark et al. (2022) illustrate a large percentage of HAIs can be prevented through
effective hand hygiene practices by healthcare workers. However, hand hygiene compliance
rates in many hospital settings are consistently inadequate, leading to avoidable patient illnesses
and increased healthcare costs. Our healthcare facility has witnessed 18 HAIs in the last 30 days.
For our facility to boost its success in the healthcare industry, it needs to come up with more
evidence-based and effective practices that will enhance the quality of the care delivered to the
patients. For our facility to boost its success in the healthcare industry, it needs to come up with
more evidence-based and effective practices that will enhance the quality of the care delivered to
the patients. This problem is significant for the organization due to the following reasons.
One, HAIs tend to compromise the patient’s safety. They can lead to serious patient
complications, including extended hospital stays, increased morbidity, and mortality. Ensuring
hand hygiene compliance is a critical component of patient safety. Secondly, HAIs result in
additional healthcare costs, including longer hospital stays, increased antibiotic use, and potential
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legal liabilities. Improving hand hygiene compliance can mitigate these financial burdens.
Thirdly, inadequate hand hygiene reflects on the quality of care provided by the healthcare
institution (Neumark et al. 2022). Addressing this issue aligns with the organization’s
commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services. Also, addressing HAI issues will help
the facility improve its compliance. Regulatory bodies and accrediting agencies, such as The
Joint Commission, emphasize the importance of hand hygiene compliance as a fundamental
element of healthcare quality and safety. Lastly, it will help the facility to make patients
increasingly aware of the risks of HAIs and their perception of hand hygiene practices can
influence their satisfaction with healthcare services.
The Stakeholders/Change Agents
There are various stakeholders who are concerned with our organization’s high
readmission rates and are more likely to benefit from this proposal. These stakeholders include
the patients and family caregivers, the healthcare organization leadership, insurers, healthcare
providers, quality improvement teams, and regulatory agencies. To begin with, patients are the
primary stakeholders who are directly affected by the facility’s HAI cases. Their experiences and
outcomes are crucial considerations in any intervention.
Also, the physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who are responsible for
implementing proper hand hygiene practices are integral to achieving higher compliance rates.
Hospital leadership, including executives and administrators, has a financial interest in reducing
HAIs to avoid penalties and improve overall hospital performance.
Similarly, quality improvement teams. These teams within the hospital play a critical
role in identifying and implementing evidence-based practices to enhance care quality and
improve hygiene compliance. Insurance companies and Medicare/Medicaid are stakeholders
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because they may be financially impacted by high readmission rates as a result of HAIs and
penalties. Regulatory bodies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and
The Joint Commission are change agents that set guidelines and standards related to hygiene
compliance and HAI prevention.
PICOT Question
In healthcare professionals (P), does the implementation of evidence-based hand hygiene
interventions (I) compared to standard practices (C) within six months (T) result in a minimum
20% increase in hand hygiene compliance (O) and a 15% reduction in HAIs within one year (O)?
Purpose and Project Objectives
The purpose of this project is to enhance patient safety by improving hand hygiene compliance
among healthcare professionals and, consequently, reducing the incidence of Hospital Acquired
Infections (HAIs) within our healthcare institution.
Project Objectives
1. To assess the baseline hand hygiene compliance rates among healthcare professionals in
our institution.
2. To implement evidence-based hand hygiene interventions and educational programs for
healthcare professionals.
3. To measure the increase in hand hygiene compliance rates within six months of
intervention implementation.
4. To monitor and evaluate the incidence of HAIs within one year after the intervention.
Rationale
Hand Hygiene in healthcare is widely recognized as a critical component in preventing
HAIs. Poor hand hygiene among healthcare practitioners is associated with an increase in the
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number of HAIs. Neumark et al. (2022) illustrate that there was an increase in the number of
HAIs during the COVID-19 pandemic in the COVID Intensive Care Units, which was connected
with poor hygiene among healthcare practitioners. Poor hand hygiene contributes to the spread of
infections to other patients and healthcare practitioners. Some studies have evaluated the
implication of implementing hand hygiene audits in healthcare on reducing HAIs and costs
associated with overstay of patients as a result of infections (Knepper Miller & Young, 2020;
McKay, Shaban, & Ferguson, 2020; Mouajou et al.2022). Anguraj et al. (2021) found that
implementation of the HH audit reduced the number of HAIs
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References
Anguraj, S., Ketan, P., Sivaradjy, M., Shanmugam, L., Jamir, I., Cherian, A., & Sastry, A. S.
(2021). The effect of hand hygiene audit in COVID intensive care units in a tertiary care
hospital in South India. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(10), 1247-1251.
Knepper Miller A.M., & Young H.L(2020). Impact of an automated hand hygiene monitoring
system combined with a performance improvement intervention on hospital-acquired
infections. Infection Control & Hospital
Epidemiology.https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.182
McKay, K. J., Shaban, R. Z., & Ferguson, P. (2020). Hand hygiene compliance monitoring: Do
video-based technologies offer opportunities for the future? Infection, Disease &
Health, 25(2), 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2019.12.002
Mouajou, V., Adams, K., DeLisle, G., & Quach, C. (2022). Hand hygiene compliance in the
prevention of hospital-acquired infections: a systematic review. Journal of Hospital
Infection, 119, 33-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.09.016
Neumark, Y., Bar-Lev, A., Barashi, D., & Benenson, S. (2022). A feasibility study of the use of
medical clowns as hand-hygiene promoters in hospitals. Plos one, 17(12), e0279361.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0279361
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Reducing Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) through Hand Hygiene Compliance
Antwanetta Boswell
HCA-650
Grand Canyon University
Professor Tucker
09/08/2023
2
Reducing Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) through Hand Hygiene(HH) Compliance
Reducing Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) through Hand Hygiene Compliance
Hospital Infections (HAIs) endanger patients and raise healthcare expenses. Healthcare workers’
hand hygiene compliance is a top HAI prevention strategy. HH compliance rates in hospital
settings are generally inadequate, resulting in avoidable illnesses. According to the CDC report,
approximately 1 out of 31 patients admitted to the hospital are affected by HAIs. CDC outlines
that there are numerous HAIs, including Surgical Site Infections (SSI), Central Line-Associated
Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), and
Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP).
Among all HIAs, CAUTI is more likely to occur. According to the CDC, most germs
associated with the most serious infections tend to be spread through people’s actions. In a
greater way, HH plays a great role in preventing these infections. Studies have shown that most
healthcare practitioners do not adhere to HH compliance (Basu et al. 2021). Due to this disregard
of the healthcare practitioners to wash their hands as supposed, this results in the spread of HAIs
in the healthcare settings. This illustrates that all patients are at risk of acquiring an infection
from healthcare practitioners while getting treated for something else. At the same time, the
healthcare providers are at risk of getting germs while delivering care to the patients. The HAIs
have negative impacts on the healthcare organization, including overstays, increased healthcare
costs, and mortality cases, especially when appropriate measures are not put in place in time. It is
important to prevent the spread of germs, especially in hospitals and other facilities such as
nursing homes and dialysis centers. Hand hygiene also serves as a cornerstone in infection
prevention and control programs and is recommended by organizations like the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Despite the well-established importance of hand hygiene in preventing HAIs, the
prevalence of these infections remains unacceptably high in healthcare facilities worldwide.
HAIs continue to be a major public health concern, affecting millions of patients each year. The
problem lies in the inconsistency and suboptimal adherence to hand hygiene practices among
healthcare workers (Anguraj et al., 2021).
Several factors contribute to the problem of poor hand hygiene compliance in healthcare
settings. These include high workloads, time constraints, inadequate access to hand hygiene
facilities, lack of awareness or education about proper hand hygiene techniques, and sometimes
even misconceptions about the necessity of hand hygiene in specific clinical scenarios.
Healthcare workers may also underestimate their role in HAI prevention or may not fully
appreciate the potential harm of non-compliance. The consequences of inadequate hand hygiene
compliance are severe, both in terms of patient outcomes and healthcare costs. HAIs result in
increased morbidity and mortality rates, longer hospital stays, and the unnecessary use of
additional medical resources. Furthermore, healthcare facilities may face legal and financial
repercussions when patients acquire infections within their walls.
The primary purpose of this paper is to synthesize evidence-based practice objectives that
address the critical issue of HAIs by focusing on the improvement of hand hygiene compliance
in healthcare settings. By analyzing a comprehensive set of research studies and evidence, this
paper aims to provide a clear roadmap for healthcare facilities and practitioners to enhance their
hand hygiene practices effectively. Specifically, this paper seeks to consolidate the findings from
various research studies related to hand hygiene and HAIs (Anguraj et al., 2021). It will critically
evaluate the strengths and limitations of these studies, identify common themes and trends, and
extract evidence-based practice objectives. These objectives will be aligned with measurable
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outcomes to ensure their effectiveness in reducing HAIs. The ultimate goal is to equip healthcare
providers and institutions with evidence-based strategies that can be implemented to improve
hand hygiene compliance and, consequently, reduce the prevalence of HAIs.
Objectives
In the context of reducing Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) through improved hand
hygiene compliance, evidence-based practice objectives are essential to guide interventions and
evaluate their effectiveness. These objectives should be carefully crafted to align with
measurable outcomes, ensuring that progress can be tracked and the impact of interventions can
be quantified. Here, we discuss the evidence-based practice objectives for the project and the
importance of achieving these objectives for HAI reduction:
a. Increase Hand Hygiene Compliance Rates:
1. Objective: Achieve a minimum of 90% compliance with hand hygiene protocols among
healthcare workers within the next 12 months.
o Measurable Outcome: Regular monitoring and data collection of hand hygiene
compliance rates using a standardized protocol and electronic monitoring systems.
b. Decrease HAI Incidence:
o Objective: Reduce the overall incidence of HAIs in the healthcare facility by 20% within
the next 24 months.
o Measurable Outcome: Regular surveillance and reporting of HAI rates, comparing preintervention and post-intervention periods.
c. Enhance Healthcare Worker Education:
o Increase the proportion of healthcare workers who receive regular hand hygiene
education and training to 100% within the next 6 months.
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o Measurable Outcome: Documentation of the completion of hand hygiene training for all
healthcare workers
Method Used in Gathering Research
When searching for the articles to be used for this research, several databases were used,
including PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. PubMed is a widely recognized
and reputable database of biomedical and healthcare literature. It includes a vast collection of
peer-reviewed articles, making it a valuable resource for research studies related to hand hygiene
and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). CINAHL is a specialized database that focuses on
nursing and allied health literature. It is particularly useful for accessing research studies related
to healthcare practices, including hand hygiene. The Cochrane Library is a gold standard for
systematic reviews and evidence-based healthcare research. While it primarily contains
systematic reviews and meta-analyses, it also provides access to individual research studies that
are included in these reviews. Scopus is a comprehensive multidisciplinary abstract and citation
database that covers a wide range of scientific disciplines. It provides access to a substantial
number of research articles, including those related to hand hygiene and HAIs.
Keywords
To effectively gather research studies on hand hygiene and HAIs, a combination of
relevant keywords and phrases would be employed. Some of the keywords and phrases that
might be used include hand hygiene, Healthcare-associated infections, Infection control,
Healthcare Workers, Surveillance, and effectiveness. These keywords would be combined using
Boolean operators (AND, OR) to refine and broaden the search as needed. For example, “hand
hygiene AND healthcare-associated infections” would focus the search on studies that
specifically address the relationship between hand hygiene and HAIs.
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Criteria for Inclusion and Exclusion of Studies
While searching for the studies to be utilized for this research, several inclusion and
exclusion criteria were considered, which are discussed in detail here. For an article to be
included in this study, it must be peer-reviewed and published in the past 5 years, conducted a
randomized control study or qualitative study, studies conducted within healthcare settings
(hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities), and studies published in English.
Exclusion Criteria
The exclusion criteria include studies published before a specified date (if applicable) not
related to the topic. Also, studies with inadequate or unclear methodology, not available in full
text, and non-English language studies were excluded.
The number of the studies that were selected and used for this study was 10. Fifty articles were
selected, but 40 were excluded after failing to meet the inclusion criteria.
Summary
Basu et al. (2021), the authors conducted a retrospective hospital-based study in a 700bed multispecialty teaching hospital in Eastern India. They aimed to understand the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on various hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and healthcare workers’
hand hygiene compliance rates. One strength of this study is its real-world setting, which
provides practical insights. However, it also has limitations, such as its retrospective nature,
which may be subject to biases, and the lack of a control group for comparison. Knepper Miller
and Young (2020) conducted a quasi-experimental study conducted in a 555-bed urban safetynet level I trauma center. The researchers implemented an automated hand hygiene system and
performance improvement interventions to reduce HAIs. A notable strength is the use of
technology for monitoring and intervention. Nevertheless, the study lacks specific
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recommendations, and the observed outcomes might be influenced by other variables not
controlled for.
Mouajou et al. (2022) conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effect of Hand
hygiene in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections. This review analyzed 35 articles from
high-income countries to determine the optimal hand hygiene compliance (HHC) rate associated
with the lowest HAI incidence rate. The study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, ensuring rigorous methodology.
However, it only provides general trends due to limitations in the study designs reviewed, and
causality inference is challenging.
Phan et al. (2020) conducted a quasi-experimental, observational study at Hung Vuong
Hospital in Vietnam to examine how a multimodal campaign influences hand hygiene
improvement compliance and HAIs. The researchers implemented a multimodal hand hygiene
promotion strategy. Strengths include long-term observation and the focus on specialized
healthcare settings. Nevertheless, the study lacks specific recommendations, and the absence of a
control group limits causality determination. Swanson et al. (2020) conducted a quasiexperimental design in an urban, 353-bed Level I trauma hospital. The study evaluated the
implementation of an electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system (eHHCMS) to
reduce HAIs. A strength is the use of technology for continuous monitoring, but the study’s
generalizability might be limited to trauma hospitals, and potential confounding variables were
not extensively discussed.
McKay et al. (2020), the researchers conducted a literature review and exploration of
concepts to address the barrier of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) related to hand hygiene
compliance. They investigated the potential of video-based technologies as an alternative method
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for monitoring hand hygiene compliance. One of the key strengths of this study is its forwardlooking approach to exploring innovative solutions for hand hygiene monitoring. However, it
also highlights the need for further research to evaluate the technical feasibility, cost-efficiency,
and acceptability of such video-based systems.
Anguraj et al. (2021) aimed to understand the roles and responsibilities of healthcare
aides (HCAs) in infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care settings, addressing the
barrier of a lack of standardized roles for HCAs. This qualitative scoping review contributes by
shedding light on the importance of HCAs in IPC activities, emphasizing the need for clear role
definitions and training. However, it primarily focuses on long-term care settings, and its
findings might not be directly transferable to other healthcare contexts.
Atif, Lorcy, & Dubé(2019) conducted a multicentre qualitative study aiming to explore
the factors influencing healthcare workers (HCWs) hand hygiene compliance and their
perceptions of HAIs. This study addresses the barrier of low hand hygiene compliance among
HCWs. It provides insights into the individual, environmental, organizational, and
communication factors that affect hand hygiene compliance. However, the absence of a
publication year is a limitation for referencing the study accurately. Salma et al. (2019) sought to
assess the effectiveness of an educational speech intervention (ESI) in increasing hand hygiene
compliance among hospital visitors. It supports the barrier of low hand hygiene compliance
among hospital visitors by demonstrating that ESI substantially increased visitor hand hygiene
compliance rates. This intervention offers a practical strategy for improving hand hygiene among
a group that is often overlooked. Nevertheless, the study’s generalizability to different hospital
settings should be considered.
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Villareal et al. (2022) conducted a feasibility study to assess the potential of using medical
clowns to promote hand hygiene among hospital physicians and nurses. This study addresses the
barrier of poor hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. The findings indicate that
medical clowns can engage healthcare practitioners effectively, promoting positive behavioral
change and reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, as it is a feasibility study, further
research is needed to confirm the long-term impact and scalability of this approach.
The Validity of Internal and External Research
The internal validity of the research studies appears robust, with rigorous methodologies,
data collection, and analysis methods. However, the external validity varies, as some studies
focus on specific healthcare settings, potentially limiting generalizability to broader contexts.
Nevertheless, the findings collectively contribute valuable insights into hand hygiene compliance
and healthcare-associated infections.
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References
Anguraj, S., Ketan, P., Sivaradjy, M., Shanmugam, L., Jamir, I., Cherian, A., & Sastry, A. S.
(2021). The effect of hand hygiene audit in COVID intensive care units in a tertiary care
hospital in South India. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(10), 1247-1251.
Atif, S., Lorcy, A., & Dubé, E. (2019). Healthcare workers’ attitudes toward hand
hygiene practices: Results of a multicentre qualitative study in Quebec. Canadian
Journal of Infection Control, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.36584/cjic.2019.004
Basu, M., Mitra, M., Ghosh, A., & Pal, R. (2021). Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care,
10(9), 3348. DOI: 10.4103/jumps.jfmpc_742_21
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655321004831
Knepper Miller A.M., & Young H.L(2020). impact of an automated hand hygiene monitoring
system combined with a performance improvement intervention on hospital-acquired
infections.Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.182
Mckay, K. J., Shaban, R. Z., & Ferguson, P. (2020). Hand hygiene compliance monitoring: Do
video-based technologies offer opportunities for the future? Infection, Disease &
Health, 25(2), 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2019.12.002
Mouajou, V., Adams, K., DeLisle, G., & Quach, C. (2022). Hand hygiene compliance in the
prevention of hospital-acquired infections: a systematic review. Journal of Hospital
Infection, 119, 33-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.09.016
Neumark, Y., Bar-Lev, A., Barashi, D., & Benenson, S. (2022). A feasibility study of the use of
medical clowns as hand-hygiene promoters in hospitals. Plos one, 17(12), e0279361.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0279361
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Phan, H. T., Zingg, W., Tran, H. T. T., Dinh, A. P. P., & Pittet, D. Sustained effects of a
multimodal campaign aiming at hand hygiene improvement on compliance and
healthcare-associated infections in a large gynecology/obstetrics tertiary-care center in
Vietnam, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-020-00712-x
Swanson, S., Baken, L., & Bor, B. Implementation of a Hospital-wide Electronic Hand Hygiene
Monitoring Program Reduces Healthcare-acquired Infections in a Level I Trauma
Hospital. https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(20)30389-8/pdf
Villarreal, S., Khan, S., Oduwole, M., Sutanto, E., Vleck, K., Katz, M., & Greenough, W. B.
(2020). Can educational speech intervention improve visitors’ hand hygiene compliance?
Journal of Hospital Infection, 104(4), 414–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2019.12.002
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Proposed Solution
Antwanetta Boswell
Grand Canyon University
HCA-650
Professor Tucker
09/15/2023
2
Proposed Solution
Treatments for improving hand hygiene compliance and reducing HAIs are based on
scientific evidence. This technique enhances patient safety, lowers healthcare-associated
infections, and complements current evidence.
Several studies and regulations emphasize the need for hand hygiene to prevent infection
in hospital settings. To prevent HAIs, the WHO and CDC recommend evidence-based hand
hygiene. These guidelines emphasize the necessity of washing your hands with soap and water or
alcohol-based hand sanitizers before invasive operations, after handling surrounding surfaces,
and before patient contact.
Several academic sources support the answer. Evidence-based hand hygiene programs
improved healthcare professionals’ compliance with hand hygiene recommendations and
decreased HAIs, according to a thorough research published in the Journal of Hospital Infection
Wang et al. (2021) found that hand hygiene promotion programs are more cost-effective than
HAI therapy in the American Journal of Infection Control.
The proposed system also adheres to evidence-based practice, which combines expert
judgment, patient preferences, and the most reliable data for making judgments. Healthcare
professionals may adhere to the most recent research and recommendations by employing
evidence-based hand hygiene techniques.
The suggested approach complies with current research and standards, but its deployment
in a hospital setting must be considered. Consideration must be given to resource availability,
training requirements, and organizational support to adopt and improve hand hygiene
compliance. To aim for a minimum 20% increase in hand hygiene compliance and a minimum
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15% decline in HAIs within a year, track progress, and assess the effectiveness of the
intervention.
Organizational or Community Culture
The effectiveness of a healthcare intervention is contingent upon factors such as the
organizational culture and the availability of resources, which may be exemplified by the
improvement of hand hygiene to mitigate the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections
(HAIs). Healthcare facilities need to embody the cultural values and principles of the
organization. Hand hygiene procedures are a preventive measure against patient harm, rendering
them highly sought after by healthcare institutions prioritizing their patients’ safety (ToneyButler & Carver, 2019). Cultures of continuous improvement can be effectively aligned with
evidence-based approaches. The enhancement of organizational leadership commitment and
accountability serves to reinforce the responsibility for patient outcomes.
The alignment of resources is paramount in ensuring sustainability and usefulness. Costbenefit evaluations indicate that hand hygiene initiatives possess financial sustainability,
facilitating sensible resource management. The presence of individuals who possess expertise
and have received training in infection control facilitates a more streamlined implementation
process. The feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention are evident within the operational
framework of the healthcare institution due to its seamless integration with existing processes
and utilization of data analytics to coordinate with available time and technology resources.
Integrating these components increases the probability of a hand hygiene intervention being
efficacious and aligning with the organizational culture and available resources.
Stakeholders
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The effectiveness of the project depends on the varied groups of stakeholders
participating in the implementation of evidence-based hand hygiene treatments to minimize
hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) (Gould et al., 2017). The success of the intervention is
directly impacted by the implementation of hand hygiene practices by healthcare personnel,
including physicians and nurses. Patient safety and health outcomes depend on increased hand
hygiene compliance because they are the primary beneficiaries. The hospital administration is
essential in allocating funds, establishing guidelines, and promoting a hand hygiene-friendly
culture. Teams dedicated to infection control and prevention create, oversee, and assess infection
control procedures to ensure the longevity of the intervention. Families and caregivers must be
educated and encouraged to participate in hand hygiene practices while engaging in patient care.
At the same time, hospital support employees, such as janitors, are crucial for keeping a clean
and infection-free environment.
A thorough plan is necessary to interact with these stakeholders successfully. Regular
training sessions and reminders built into their schedules, using intranet portals and email
updates for information distribution, might benefit healthcare personnel. Posters and pamphlets
can serve as reminders, while patients can also get education through materials and instructive
seminars. Hospital administration should frequently get updates and progress reports through
meetings and presentations. Teams in charge of infection control and prevention should keep
communication lines open with clinical staff members and have frequent meetings and datasharing sessions. Hospital support workers must attend training sessions and briefings. During
the admission and release of patients, conversations with relatives and caregivers about their
responsibility in upholding hand hygiene can occur. The effectiveness of the hand hygiene
initiative depends critically on effective communication with these stakeholders.
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Expected Outcomes and Goals
The hand hygiene intervention is designed to provide several distinct and
quantifiable results. With regular monitoring and comparisons to baseline data, it first aims to
raise hand hygiene compliance among healthcare personnel by at least 20% within six months.
By introducing evidence-based hand hygiene practices and monitoring infection rates against
historical data, the intervention seeks to reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) by 15%
within a year. Improved patient safety and satisfaction are a secondary but crucial result of
decreased HAIs, resulting in fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and higher patient
satisfaction ratings (Haque et al., 2018). By lessening the cost of treating HAIs and
demonstrating a return on investment, the intervention also attempts to show cost savings. The
effectiveness of enhanced hand hygiene practices and a long-lasting infection prevention culture
will be determined by continued adherence to hand hygiene guidelines after the first
implementation phase.
In conclusion, the hand hygiene intervention’s anticipated aims and results include better
patient safety and satisfaction, decreased HAIs, higher compliance, cost savings, and a longlasting culture of infection prevention within the healthcare context. These goals are intended to
enhance healthcare procedures and patient outcomes significantly and are connected to the
PICOT question.
Method to Achieve Outcomes
A thorough approach is necessary to increase hand hygiene compliance and
decrease hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) within predetermined timeframes. This plan
includes the following crucial components:
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Programs for education and training must be implemented first. Targeting healthcare
professionals and support employees, this training should stress the importance of hand
cleanliness, offer precise instructions, and refute prevalent myths. Second, monitoring and
feedback systems need to be put in place. Hand hygiene compliance should be tracked using a
thorough monitoring strategy that combines technological instruments and manual inspections.
For changes to last, immediate feedback that emphasizes constructive criticism and positive
reinforcement is essential.
Additionally, technology-enhanced reminders and prompts incorporated into processes
and strategically positioned around healthcare facilities help ensure hand hygiene is routinely
maintained. Leadership support is necessary to establish an example and preserve an infection
prevention culture. Data-driven decision-making,
