Hand hygiene among health care workers: Is educating patients and families a feasible way to increase rates?

Marvin J. Bittner; Jared M. Routh; Matthew D. Folchert; Nicholas E. Woessner; Sean J. Kennedy; Chase C. Parks

Hand hygiene among health care workers: Is educating patients and families a feasible way to increase rates?

Marvin J. Bittner, Jared M. Routh, Matthew D. Folchert, Nicholas E. Woessner, Sean J. Kennedy, Chase C. Parks

Department of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended teaching patients to remind health care workers to disinfect their hands. However, cognitive impairment among patients may hamper such efforts. Methods: The St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination was administered to randomly selected inpatients at the Omaha VA Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. We asked patients and their families about attitudes toward reminding health care workers to disinfect their hands: willingness, feeling comfortable, and feeling responsible. Results: Of 143 patients, 94 completed SLUMS; 9 had normal mental status and appropriate attitudes. Overall, 16 encounters involved patients or family who were well-suited for giving reminders. Conclusion: Programs to encourage hospitalized adults to remind staff to perform hand hygiene may encounter barriers related to cognitive impairment and attitudes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	79-83
Number of pages	5
Journal	Wisconsin Medical Journal
Volume	116
Issue number	2
State	Published - Jun 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Medicine(all)

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title = "Hand hygiene among health care workers: Is educating patients and families a feasible way to increase rates?",

abstract = "Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended teaching patients to remind health care workers to disinfect their hands. However, cognitive impairment among patients may hamper such efforts. Methods: The St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination was administered to randomly selected inpatients at the Omaha VA Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. We asked patients and their families about attitudes toward reminding health care workers to disinfect their hands: willingness, feeling comfortable, and feeling responsible. Results: Of 143 patients, 94 completed SLUMS; 9 had normal mental status and appropriate attitudes. Overall, 16 encounters involved patients or family who were well-suited for giving reminders. Conclusion: Programs to encourage hospitalized adults to remind staff to perform hand hygiene may encounter barriers related to cognitive impairment and attitudes.",

author = "Bittner, {Marvin J.} and Routh, {Jared M.} and Folchert, {Matthew D.} and Woessner, {Nicholas E.} and Kennedy, {Sean J.} and Parks, {Chase C.}",

year = "2017",

month = jun,

language = "English (US)",

volume = "116",

pages = "79--83",

journal = "Wisconsin Medical Journal",

issn = "0043-6542",

publisher = "State Medical Society of Wisconsin",

number = "2",

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T1 - Hand hygiene among health care workers

T2 - Is educating patients and families a feasible way to increase rates?

AU - Bittner, Marvin J.

AU - Routh, Jared M.

AU - Folchert, Matthew D.

AU - Woessner, Nicholas E.

AU - Kennedy, Sean J.

AU - Parks, Chase C.

PY - 2017/6

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N2 - Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended teaching patients to remind health care workers to disinfect their hands. However, cognitive impairment among patients may hamper such efforts. Methods: The St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination was administered to randomly selected inpatients at the Omaha VA Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. We asked patients and their families about attitudes toward reminding health care workers to disinfect their hands: willingness, feeling comfortable, and feeling responsible. Results: Of 143 patients, 94 completed SLUMS; 9 had normal mental status and appropriate attitudes. Overall, 16 encounters involved patients or family who were well-suited for giving reminders. Conclusion: Programs to encourage hospitalized adults to remind staff to perform hand hygiene may encounter barriers related to cognitive impairment and attitudes.

AB - Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended teaching patients to remind health care workers to disinfect their hands. However, cognitive impairment among patients may hamper such efforts. Methods: The St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination was administered to randomly selected inpatients at the Omaha VA Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. We asked patients and their families about attitudes toward reminding health care workers to disinfect their hands: willingness, feeling comfortable, and feeling responsible. Results: Of 143 patients, 94 completed SLUMS; 9 had normal mental status and appropriate attitudes. Overall, 16 encounters involved patients or family who were well-suited for giving reminders. Conclusion: Programs to encourage hospitalized adults to remind staff to perform hand hygiene may encounter barriers related to cognitive impairment and attitudes.

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