Hand Hygiene

HSC 421: Health Behavior

By: Rosa Fard, Timothy Chu, Mandy Li, and Darryl
Saungweme

Definition - Hand hygiene is defined

as any method that removes or destroys
microorganisms on hands.
Description - Hand washing is like do it
yourself vaccine-it involves five simple
and effective steps. (wet, lather, scrub,
rinse, dry) you can take to reduce the
risk of getting sick and you can stay
healthy.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Vessel sanitation program:OPRP - general information on
hand hygiene. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/cruiselines/hand_hygiene_general.htm

Keeping hand clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid
getting sick and spreading germs to others.
There is now undisputed evidence that strict adherence to hand hygiene reduces
the risk of cross-transmission of infections.
In October 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) World Alliance for
Patient Safety launched the first Global Patient Safety Challenge 20052006.
Within the Challenge framework, international infection control experts and
consultative task forces met to develop new WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene
in Healthcare.
Source: Mathur, P. (2011). Hand hygiene: Back to the basics of infection control. The Indian Journal of Medical Research,
134(5), 611620. Retrieved from http://doi.org/10.4103/0971-5916.90985

- Studies have shown that at least one third of all

hospital infections are preventable. A substantial
proportion of infections results from crosscontamination, and transmission of microorganisms
by the hands of health-care workers is recognized as
the main route of spread
- Curriculum for teaching hand washing to
preschoolers, young children ages 3 - 6, Middle
School and Junior High students and Grades 9 - adult.
- Poor hand hygiene on college campuses can be
improved by promoting handwashing behavior.
Source: Didier, P. (2011). Improving Adherence to hand hygiene practice: A multidisciplinary approach. Emerging Infectious
Diseases, 7(2) Retrieved from http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/7/2/70-0234
Minnesota Department of Health. (2016). Age Appropriate Hand Washing Curriculum. Retrieved from
http://www.health.state.mn.us/handhygiene/curricula/curriculum.html

Environmental Influences
Neighborhood
Where you live (developed vs. undeveloped country)

College
Could be a high-risk area where lots of people meet together

Work Environment
Child care center, broken or improperly placed dispensers
Source: Aiello, A. E., & Larson, E. L. (2002, February). What is the evidence for a causal link between hygiene and infections?
The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2(2), 103-110. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309902001846

Culture and Religion

Culture
Some cultures (in Africa) have strict hygiene norms
African, Jewish, and Muslim cultures on use of different hands
Religion
Many religions such as Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism have indications for hand hygiene
Washing hands after toilet use or after each meal
Using alcohol-based hand rubs might deter some religions from using it
Source: Allegranzim, B., Memish, Z. A., Donaldson, L., & Pittet, D. (2009, February). Religion and culture: Potential undercurrents
influencing hand hygiene promotion in healthcare. American Journal Infection Control, 37(1), 28-34. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655308004896

Cognitive Factors
Knowledge
Includes knowing how to effectively
wash, knowing history, etc.

Beliefs
What people think is true about handwashing (may be unproven)

Values
Importance of hand hygiene to
someone

Attitudes
The application of someones beliefs
and values of hand hygiene

Source: Anderson, M., and De Silva, S. (2009). Beliefs, values and attitudes. Me-and-Us Resources for Personal, Social and Health
Education. Retrieved from http://www.me-and-us.co.uk/psheskills/bva.html

(Health Behavior Protective Factors)

Protective Factors
1. Handwashing and hand sanitizer protects us from bacteria and
viruses such as Salmonella, E.coli, Norovirus, and Adenovirus.
2. It keeps germs from entering our bodies via eyes, nose and mouth.

3. If these germs are not washed they can cause respiratory infections,
skin infections, eye infections and diarrhea.
4. Be aware of what you touch including handrails,toilet handles even
shared computers.
Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2015). Handwashing: Clean hands save lives: Show me the science - why wash your
hands? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html

5. Hand washing education to young children is the best defense against

(Health Behavior Consequences)

Social: Decreased chance of spreading germs to
other people and getting them sick. Decreased
chances of infecting those with compromised
immune systems.
Physical : Lessened chance of being contaminated
by opportunistic germs on your hands. Increased
well being about cleanliness.
Mental : Sleep is cycle is not disturbed due to non
illness. No headaches, runny noses and general
malaise.

Economic: Less visits to the emergency room or the

pharmacy. Which can be costly.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Vessel sanitation program:OPRP - general information on
hand hygiene. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/cruiselines/hand_hygiene_general.htm

Hand Hygiene in Hospital Settings

My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

-

Key moments when healthcare workers should perform

hand hygiene.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO). (2016). Clean care is safer care: About save lives: Clean your hands. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/background/5moments/en/

Health Research
-

More research should be done

on proper handwashing and
hygiene into daily life and
habit.

Hand hygiene and on bus or

transportation.

Hand hygiene are mostly focus

on hospital, business and
school setting.

References
1. Aiello, A. E., & Larson, E. L. (2002, February). What is the evidence for a causal link between
hygiene and infections? The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2(2), 103-110. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309902001846
2. Allegranzim, B., Memish, Z. A., Donaldson, L., & Pittet, D. (2009, February). Religion and
culture: Potential undercurrents influencing hand hygiene promotion in healthcare. American
Journal Infection Control, 37(1), 28-34. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655308004896
3. Anderson, M., and De Silva, S. (2009). Beliefs, values and attitudes. Me-and-Us Resources for
Personal, Social and Health Education. Retrieved from http://www.me-andus.co.uk/psheskills/bva.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2002, October 25). Guideline for hand
hygiene in health-care settings: Recommendations of the healthcare infection control practices
advisory committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA hand hygiene task force. MMWR.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 51. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf
5. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2015). Handwashing: Clean hands save lives: Show me the
science - why wash your hands? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/whyhandwashing.html

References - cont
1.

2.

3.
4.
5.

6.
7.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Vessel sanitation program:OPRP general information on hand hygiene. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/cruiselines/hand_hygiene_general.htm
Didier, P. (2011). Improving Adherence to hand hygiene practice: A multidisciplinary
approach. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 7(2) Retrieved from
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/7/2/70-0234
Mathur, P. (2011). Hand hygiene: Back to the basics of infection control. The Indian Journal of
Medical Research, 134(5), 611620. Retrieved from http://doi.org/10.4103/0971-5916.90985
Minnesota Department of Health. (2016). Age Appropriate Hand Washing Curriculum.
Retrieved from http://www.health.state.mn.us/handhygiene/curricula/curriculum.html
The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System.
(2016). Hand hygiene unit activity ideas. Retrieved from
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heic/docs/Hand_hygiene_unit_activity_ideas.pdf
Western Lincoln Memorial Hospital. (2016). Hand hygiene. Grimsby, Ontario. Retrieved from
http://www.wlmh.on.ca/body.cfm?id=249
World Health Organization (WHO). (2016). Clean care is safer care: About save lives: Clean
your hands. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/background/5moments/en/

Activity
- Gloves on both hands.
- Some paint will be put on your hand.

- Please dont play with the paint until we tell you to do so.
- Close your eyes and imitate you are washing your hand and the
paint is the soap.
- We will be timing you 15 sec.
Source: The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System. (2016). Hand hygiene unit
activity ideas. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heic/docs/Hand_hygiene_unit_activity_ideas.pdf

Tips for Hand Hygiene

Look at your hand.

How do you feel about it?

Good or Bad?

Source: Western Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

(2016). Hand hygiene. Grimsby, Ontario.
Retrieved from
http://www.wlmh.on.ca/body.cfm?id=249