Hand(y) hygiene insights: Applying three theoretical models to investigate hospital patients' and visitors' hand hygiene behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Improving hand hygiene in hospitals is the most efficient method to prevent healthcare-associated infections. The hand hygiene behavior of hospital patients and visitors is not well-researched, although they pose a risk for the transmission of pathogens. Therefore, the present study had three aims: (1) Finding a suitable theoretical model to explain patients' and visitors' hand hygiene practice; (2) Identifying important predictors for their hand hygiene behavior; and (3) Comparing the essential determinants of hand hygiene behavior between healthcare professionals from the literature to our non-professional sample.

Methods

In total N = 1,605 patients and visitors were surveyed on their hand hygiene practice in hospitals. The employed questionnaires were based on

SUBMITTER: Gaube S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7808666 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature