Multimodal Intervention Program and Hand Hygiene Compliance on the Mother/Baby Unit
Disciplines
Maternal and Child Health | Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing | Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Abstract
In a Metro Atlanta hospital on the mother/baby unit, there is a lack of hand hygiene compliance among the staff. An observational study over two months revealed that health care workers on the unit have a low compliance to hand hygiene guidelines. This project is important because newborns are vulnerable to infection, which can lead to morbidity and mortality. Mothers can also develop nosocomial infections that lead to complications and longer hospital stays. If the problem is not addressed, more patients may develop healthcare-associated infections that lead to worse patient outcomes. The purpose of this project is to find an intervention that will lead to better hand hygiene compliance on the mother/baby unit. Literature reveals that a multimodal intervention program has been successful in improving hand hygiene compliance and decreasing healthcare-related infections. Studies determined the baseline hand hygiene compliance level, started a multimodal hand hygiene education program, and measured the compliance level after the program. All studies revealed positive results and more hand hygiene compliance from the multimodal intervention program. To implement the multimodal intervention program, the mother/baby unit will hold mandatory training sessions, have a monthly checklist for soap and alcohol-based hand rub availability, hang posters for hand hygiene reminders, set computer screensavers that show hand hygiene, teach employees how to use PPE correctly, and create a safe environment to learn and change. To evaluate the intervention, another observational study will be conducted over two months on the unit. The intervention will be successful if the study reveals higher hand hygiene compliance among staff and decreased nosocomial infections.
Keywords: hand hygiene, intervention, infection, mother, newborn, study, compliance
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Jan Turner
Additional Faculty
Christie Emerson, Nursing, cemerson@kennesaw.edu
Multimodal Intervention Program and Hand Hygiene Compliance on the Mother/Baby Unit
Abstract
In a Metro Atlanta hospital on the mother/baby unit, there is a lack of hand hygiene compliance among the staff. An observational study over two months revealed that health care workers on the unit have a low compliance to hand hygiene guidelines. This project is important because newborns are vulnerable to infection, which can lead to morbidity and mortality. Mothers can also develop nosocomial infections that lead to complications and longer hospital stays. If the problem is not addressed, more patients may develop healthcare-associated infections that lead to worse patient outcomes. The purpose of this project is to find an intervention that will lead to better hand hygiene compliance on the mother/baby unit. Literature reveals that a multimodal intervention program has been successful in improving hand hygiene compliance and decreasing healthcare-related infections. Studies determined the baseline hand hygiene compliance level, started a multimodal hand hygiene education program, and measured the compliance level after the program. All studies revealed positive results and more hand hygiene compliance from the multimodal intervention program. To implement the multimodal intervention program, the mother/baby unit will hold mandatory training sessions, have a monthly checklist for soap and alcohol-based hand rub availability, hang posters for hand hygiene reminders, set computer screensavers that show hand hygiene, teach employees how to use PPE correctly, and create a safe environment to learn and change. To evaluate the intervention, another observational study will be conducted over two months on the unit. The intervention will be successful if the study reveals higher hand hygiene compliance among staff and decreased nosocomial infections.
Keywords: hand hygiene, intervention, infection, mother, newborn, study, compliance