Highlights
- •We observed the visitor utilization of an alcohol-based hand sanitizers (AHS).
- •We examined if location of AHS and visitor characteristics influenced usage of AHS.
- •Location of AHS influences visitor's usage of the AHS.
- •Age and entering the hospital as a group influence the likelihood of visitors using AHS.
Background
Hospital visitors' hand hygiene (HH) is an important aspect of preventing health care-associated
infections, but little is known about visitors' use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers
(AHS). The study aim was to examine if use of AHS is influenced by visitor characteristics
and the location of AHS within the lobby of a large hospital.
Methods
An observational study was conducted with AHS placed in 3 different locations. The
data included visitor characteristics and if AHS were used.
Results
The results suggest that visitors are 5.28 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.68-7.82)
more likely to use AHS when dispensers are located in the middle of the lobby with
limited landmarks or barriers, 1.35 times more likely to use the AHS in the afternoon
compared with the morning, or when they are younger visitors (adjusted odds ratio, 1.47;
95% CI, 1.09-1.97). Individuals in a group are more likely (adjusted odds ratio, 1.39;
95% CI, 1.06-1.84) to use AHS.
Discussion
In addition to location, time of day, and age, there is a group effect that results
in visitors being more likely to use AHS when in a group. The increased use related
to groups may serve as a mechanism to encourage visitor HH.
Conclusions
The results suggest future research opportunities to investigate the effect of group
dynamics and social pressure on visitor AHS use and to identify strategies for improving
visitor HH.
Key Words
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Article Info
Footnotes
Preliminary data from this study were presented as a poster at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2014 International Symposium on Human Factors in Health Care, March 16-19, 2014, Chicago, IL.
Conflicts of Interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
