J Korean Crit Care Nurs.  2018 Feb;11(1):101-109. 10.0000/jkccn.2018.11.1.101.

A Survey of Nurses' Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Perception and Hand Hygiene Performance Rate

• Cha KS
• Ko JW
• Han SH
• Jung KH

• KMID: 2407175
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkccn.2018.11.1.101

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, perception and hand hygiene performance rate of hospital nurses and to identify any correlation between them. METHOD: Data were collected from 205 nurses working in a university hospital in Chungcheong-do. A self-report survey method was utilized. Participants completed the hand hygiene knowledge questionnaire.
RESULTS
The average knowledge of hand hygiene was 11.76 (out of 18 points), and the average perception of hand hygiene was 35.55 (out of 96). The hand hygiene performance rate was 85.62%. Knowledge of hand hygiene showed significant differences according to age (F = 75.821, p < .001), gender (t = 25.049, p < .001) and working period (F = 24.843, p < .001). The most important explanatory factor in hand hygiene performance was hand hygiene perception (β= .26), followed by working period (β= .14). These variables accounted for 10.0% of subjects' hand hygiene performance.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that continuous and effective education is needed to strengthen knowledge and perception of the importance of hand hygiene practice for nurses to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

Keyword

Hand hygiene; Nurse; Healthcare associated infection; Knowledge; Perception

MeSH Terms

Cross Infection
Education
Hand Hygiene*
Hand*
Methods
Surveys and Questionnaires