'Ick factor' shown to boost hand-hygiene compliance

Visual cues will get healthcare workers to clean their hands more often


A new study found that the "ick factor" of bacteria visuals will get healthcare workers to clean their hands more often, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.

The study was presented on June 11 at the 43rd Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

The infection control team at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit used images of bacterial growth to provoke feelings of disgust and motivate hospital staff to comply with hand hygiene guidelines.

Compliance increased by between 11 and 46 percent in units where the study was conducted.

Read the article.

 



June 22, 2016


Topic Area: Infection Control


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