Current Viability of Personal Carriage: A study protocol for a cross-sectional observational study of the hand hygiene habits of first-year nursing students
Loading...
Date
2021-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Countless studies have shown the effectiveness of proper hand hygiene in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections. As such, international organizations such as the World Health Organization have outlined guidelines for the distribution of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) products in the healthcare setting. While there is an abundance of research on these methods, there are several unexplored distribution methods that may increase healthcare worker compliance and ABHR product availability in the field.
One of these methods for distribution of ABHR, personal carriage, is a method in which healthcare workers may carry individual bottles of ABHR on their person. The cleanliness, compliance levels, and attitudes associated with personal carriage have not been extensively studied. The purpose of this paper is to outline a study protocol to evaluate the current viability of personal carriage as a method of improving hand hygiene access. This study protocol outlines methods which can be followed after the COVID-19 pandemic by a new student.
This protocol is for a cross-sectional observation of a cohort of first-year nursing students that is given the opportunity to practice personal carriage. By studying the uptake of personal carriage in this cohort, researchers will predict if personal carriage is a viable distribution method of ABHR for healthcare workers of the future.
Researchers give each member of the cohort one bottle of ABHR to use at their own discretion. At the end of one month, the cohort completes a survey to determine the uptake and impact of the personal carriage intervention. In addition, the bottles will be collected, weighed, swabbed, and cultured to measure the amount of ABHR used and to observe for bottle contamination. If there is high uptake of use in the cohort and the bottles are not significantly contaminated, personal carriage may be a viable distribution method for ABHR in a healthcare setting.
In summary, the primary outcome being observed is the uptake of the intervention: does the cohort use their bottles of ABHR? The secondary outcome being observed is the presence of unintended consequences of the intervention: do the bottles become contaminated over a one-month period? High uptake with low contamination is indicative of a successful intervention.
The implications of a successful personal carriage intervention are that personal carriage may be a viable distribution method for ABHR product for healthcare workers. In turn, personal carriage may improve hand hygiene habits among healthcare workers by increasing accessibility to the product at the point of care.
Description
Keywords
Hand Hygiene, Personal Carriage, Study Protocol, Attitudes and Behaviors