Targeted educational interventions improves compliance with surgical hand scrubbing protocols & better infection control practices: study

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a critical concern in healthcare, particularly in developing countries, where they are among the most prevalent and challenging hospital-acquired infections. Adherence to proper hand hygiene practices is essential to prevent SSIs. However, compliance among surgical teams remains suboptimal due to factors such as time constraints, lack of training, and resource limitations.

The study by Abubakr Muhammed et al evaluated and enhanced adherence to surgical hand scrubbing protocols at Osman Degna Teaching Hospital using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The study has been published in “Cureus journal.”

An observational cross-sectional audit was conducted in two cycles (2 months apart) with 54 observations per cycle. Baseline adherence was assessed in the first cycle. Targeted interventions, including video demonstrations, hands-on training, and feedback, were implemented before the second cycle. Data were collected using a structured checklist and analyzed quantitatively to compare compliance rates and qualitatively to identify barriers to adherence.

Key results of the study were:

• Compliance with hand scrubbing protocols improved significantly from 63.1% in the first cycle to 94.3% in the second.

• The most notable improvement (51.5%) was observed in rotational rubbing with clasped fingers. Other areas, including scrubbing palms and rinsing hands, showed substantial increases (30.3-42%).

• The compliance in "holding the hands above the elbow at all times" improved by 20%, and the avoidance of "splashing water onto the dress" showed an 18.6% increase.

• These findings highlight the effectiveness of structured training and feedback in enhancing adherence.

“In conclusion, our study demonstrated a significant improvement in hand hygiene compliance among surgical team members following targeted educational interventions. The results highlight the effectiveness of video demonstrations, hands-on training, and regular feedback in improving adherence to surgical hand hygiene protocols. While there are limitations to the study, the findings suggest that such interventions can be an effective strategy for reducing the risk of surgical site infections and improving patient outcomes.

Further research is needed to explore the long-term sustainability of these improvements and to identify additional factors that may impact hand hygiene compliance” the authors commented.

Further reading:

Improving Quality and Compliance of Surgical Hand Scrubbing Practices: A Clinical Audit Abubakr Muhammed et al Cureus 17(3): e80821. DOI 10.7759/cureus.80821