Perspect Nurs Sci.  2015 Apr;12(1):7-13. 10.16952/pns.2015.12.1.7.

The Hawthorne Effect on the Adherence to Hand Hygiene

Affiliations
  • 1Infection Control Team, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
  • 2College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea. jeongis@pusan.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
This observational study was aimed to determine the influence of the Hawthorne effect on the adherence to hand hygiene (HH) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Korea.
METHODS
HCWs were monitored in 2 periods regarding adherence to HH when there were indications for HH. In first period, HCWs recognized that their behavior of hand hygiene being observed (overt observation), and did not recognize in second period (covert observation).
RESULTS
The overall difference in HH rate between two periods was 45.0% point (77.8% vs 32.8%). There were significant differences between profession but in nurse aids. The differences in HH rate between two periods were 46.1% point in nurses, 29.9% point in physicians, 64.0% in radiologists, 62.5% point in laboratory technicians, 36.4% point in physio-therapist, and 1.0% point in nurse aids. The Hawthorne effect on the adherence to HH lasted more than 3 months.
CONCLUSION
The Hawthorne effect markedly influence on the adherence to HH regardless of profession except nurse aids. Therefore, Hawthorne effect can be useful tool to improve and sustain the adherence to HH among HCWs in South Korea.

Keyword

Hand hygiene; Adherence; Hawthorne effect

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic*
Hand Hygiene*
Humans
Korea
Laboratory Personnel
Observational Study

Figure

  • Figure 1. Change of adherence to hand hygiene by time elapse.


Cited by  1 articles

Hand Hygiene Compliance among Visitors at a Long-term Care Hospital in Korea: A Covert Observation Study
Min Young Jung, JaHyun Kang
J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2019;30(1):99-107.    doi: 10.12799/jkachn.2019.30.1.99.


Reference

1.Allegranzi B., Pittet D. Role of hand hygiene in healthcare-associated infection prevention. J Hosp Infect. 2009 Aug. 73 (4): 305-15.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2009.04.019.
Article
2.World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care: First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care Is Safer Care. Geneva: World Health Organization;2009. Available from:. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144013/.
3.Pittet D., Allegranzi B., Sax H., Dharan S., Pessoa-Silva CL., Donaldson L, et al. Evidence-based model for hand transmission during patient care and the role of improved practices. Lancet Infect Dis. 2006. 6(10):641–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(06)70600-4.
Article
4.Cromer AL., Latham SC., Bryant KG., Hutsell S., Gansauer L., Bendyk HA, et al. Monitoring and feedback of hand hygiene compliance and the impact on facility-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Am J Infect Control. 2008. 36:672–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2007.12.006.
Article
5.Ward MA., Schweizer ML., Polgreen PM., Gupta K., Reisinger HS., Perencevich EN. Automated and electronically assisted hand hygiene monitoring systems: a systematic review. Am J Infect Control. 2014. 42:472–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2014.01.002.
Article
6.Kohli E., Ptak J., Smith R., Taylor E., Talbot EA., Kirkland KB. Variability in the Hawthorne effect with regard to hand hygiene performance in high- and low-performing inpatient care units. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009. 30(3):222–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/595692.
Article
7.Eckmanns T., Bessert J., Behnke M., Gastmeier P., Ruden H. Compliance with antiseptic hand rub use in intensive care units: the Hawthorne effect. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006. 27(9):931–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/507294.
Article
8.Gilboy N., Howard PK. Compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2008. 30(3):193–200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.TME.0000334370.14034.fc.
Article
9.Buchanan D., Huczynski A. Organizational behavior. 3rd ed.London: Prentice Hall;1997.
10.Hwang SM., Lee RH. Personality as types of self perception of others' evaluation: how Koreans perceive personality. Scientific Study of Subjectivity: Q Methodology and Theory. 2010. 20:121–43.
11.Arenas MD., Sánchez-Payá J., Barril G., García-Valdecasas J., Gorriz JL., Soriano A, et al. A multicentric survey of the practice of hand hygiene in haemodialysis units: factors affecting compliance. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2005. 20(6):1164–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfh759.
Article
12.Harbarth S., Pittet D., Grady L., Zawacki A., Potter-Bynoe G., Samore MH, et al. Interventional study to evaluate the impact of an alcohol-based hand gel in improving hand hygiene compliance. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2002. 21(6):489–95.
Article
13.Feil PH., Grauer JS., Gadbury-Amyot CC., Kula K., McCunniff MD. Intentional use of the Hawthorne effect to improve oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients. J Dent Educ. 2002. 66(10):1129–35.
Article
14.Pittet D., Mourouga P., Perneger TV. Compliance with handwashing in a teaching hospital. Ann Intern Med. 1999. 130(2):126–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-130-2-199901190-00006.
Article
15.Alsubaie S., Maither A., Alalmaei W., Al-Shammari AD., Tashkan-di M., Somily AM, et al. Determinants of hand hygiene noncompliance in intensive care units. Am J Infect Control. 2013. 41(2):131–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2012.02.035.
Article
Full Text Links
  • PNS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr