Assessment of nurses’ perceptions and adherence to five moments of hand hygiene in selected units at an African Teaching Hospital
Authors: Maniriho, F., Rajeswaran, L., Collins, A., Chironda, G.
Journal: Contemporary Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (CJMHS), ISSN 1694-4461
Citation: CJMHS 3(1), 2022-08-04.
DOI: 10.4314/rjmhs.v2i2.12
Type: Original Research
Abstract
This study aimed to assess nurses’ perceptions and adherence to the five moments of hand hygiene (5MHH) in selected units at an African teaching hospital. A descriptive quantitative study was conducted in medical and surgical units among 101 nurses selected conveniently. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that nurses’ perceptions of the 5MHH were generally positive, with a mean score of 3.9 out of 5. However, adherence to the 5MHH was suboptimal, with an overall mean score of 2.9 out of 5. The lowest adherence was observed before touching a patient (2.5 out of 5) and before an aseptic procedure (2.7 out of 5). Factors significantly associated with adherence included knowledge of 5MHH (p < 0.001), availability of hand hygiene facilities (p = 0.002), and workload (p = 0.012). The study recommends targeted interventions to improve adherence to 5MHH, including regular training, provision of adequate hand hygiene facilities, and addressing workload issues. The study highlights the need for continuous monitoring and evaluation of hand hygiene practices to ensure patient safety in African healthcare settings.
Keywords
Perception, Adherence, Five Moments of Hand Hygiene, Nurses, Teaching Hospital, Patient Safety
Full Text
This study aimed to assess nurses’ perceptions and adherence to the five moments of hand hygiene (5MHH) in selected units at an African teaching hospital. A descriptive quantitative study was conducted in medical and surgical units among 101 nurses selected conveniently. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that nurses’ perceptions of the 5MHH were generally positive, with a mean score of 3.9 out of 5. However, adherence to the 5MHH was suboptimal, with an overall mean score of 2.9 out of 5. The lowest adherence was observed before touching a patient (2.5 out of 5) and before an aseptic procedure (2.7 out of 5). Factors significantly associated with adherence included knowledge of 5MHH (p < 0.001), availability of hand hygiene facilities (p = 0.002), and workload (p = 0.012). The study recommends targeted interventions to improve adherence to 5MHH, including regular training, provision of adequate hand hygiene facilities, and addressing workload issues. The study highlights the need for continuous monitoring and evaluation of hand hygiene practices to ensure patient safety in African healthcare settings.