Assessing Nurses Hand Hygiene: A Comprehensive Analysis from Pre-Pandemic to Post-Pandemic Periods

Authors : Saliha Koç Aslan, Sesın Kocagöz, Güllüzar Bozkır, Neslihan Şebnem Çakın

Pages : 15-25

View : 28 | Download : 40

Publication Date : 2025-04-18

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This longitudinal multicenter study, it was aimed to examine the hand hygiene practices of nurses in pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods. The study was conducted in a private health institution in Turkey (2019-2023). Hand hygiene assessment was done among 2253 nurses using Hand-in-Scan™ (Semmelweis Systems by Hand-in-Scan; Hungary) technology. In the pre-pandemic phase, a sample of 936 evaluation was used as a set baseline mean cleanliness score of 93.32 (establishing a reference point for subsequent evaluations). During the pandemic, there was a significant increase in the evaluation scores, with an average score of 97.94 based on 892 recorded assessments conducted using this system. This increase emphasis the intensified focus on hygiene protocols during the pandemic, indicative of heightened awareness and adherence to hand hygiene practices. At the post-pandemic phase, with 425 observations, demonstrated a slight decline in the mean cleanliness score to 96.79. Despite this decrease, the overall cleanliness levels remained notably higher than the pre-pandemic baseline. A detailed breakdown of mean cleanliness scores for different hand regions, along with 95% Confidence Intervals, offered nuanced insights into expected cleanliness levels during each period. Statistical analysis revealed highly significant differences in hand hygiene practices between the pre-pandemic period and both the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Interestingly, no significant difference was found between the post-pandemic and pandemic periods, indicating that the elevated levels of hand hygiene practices observed during the pandemic were maintained even after it ended. The study not only contributes valuable insights into evolving hand hygiene practices but also highlights the lasting impact of increased awareness and adherence introduced during the pandemic. The incorporation of Hand-in-Scan™ technology enriches measurement precision, augmenting overall hand hygiene compliance within healthcare settings. The findings underscore the need for continued emphasis on hand hygiene protocols, emphasizing their enduring impact on healthcare practices beyond the pandemic.
Keywords : El hijyeni, hemşireler, pandemi, Hand-in-Scan™ teknolojisi, pandemi sonrası, pandemi öncesi