University Nursing Research: Hand Hygiene and Infection Control Review

This report analyzes two research articles related to hand hygiene practices in nursing, with a focus on compliance and infection control. The first article examines the impact of bacterial spores on hand contamination among healthcare workers and the effectiveness of alcohol-based hand hygiene. The study highlights the negative correlation between handwashing frequency and contamination levels, as well as the lack of significant differences in contamination between doctors and nurses. The second article investigates factors influencing hand hygiene compliance among nurses, including time constraints, self-protection, awareness of being watched, and social pressure. The research underscores the importance of leadership and management in motivating nurses to improve their hand hygiene practices. Both articles emphasize the need for consistent hand hygiene protocols to reduce hospital-acquired infections and improve patient outcomes, advocating for increased handwashing frequency and adherence to established guidelines. The report highlights the need for healthcare workers to follow hand hygiene policies to reduce infection risk.

Evidence Based Nursing Research 1
Evidence Based Nursing Research
Student name:
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Article 1:..........................................................................................................................................3
Background of the study..............................................................................................................3
Issue identified in the Study........................................................................................................3
Objective of the Study.................................................................................................................4
Significance.................................................................................................................................4
Research Findings........................................................................................................................4
Implication...................................................................................................................................5
Article 2:..........................................................................................................................................6
Background of the Study.............................................................................................................6
Issue identified in the Study........................................................................................................6
Objective of the Study.................................................................................................................6
Significance.................................................................................................................................6
Research Finding.........................................................................................................................7
Implication...................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
Reference.........................................................................................................................................8
Appendix..........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The current study helps in understanding the importance associated with hand hygiene. It is for
the same reason; the study chooses two research articles based on quantitative study on analyzing
the factors that motivates the nurses to maintain healthy hand hygiene practices. Importance of
hand hygiene is additionally stated through reflection on reducing the chances of hospital
acquired infections and promising better health outcomes
Article 1:
Background of the study
The research works on understanding the effective ways to get rid of hospital acquired bacterial
infections. Healthcare workers are seen to deal with multiple infections at a time. The exposure
makes the workers one of the key sources of spreading infections and it becomes important to
curb growing rates of infection through proper techniques of hand hygiene (Hou et al. 2017)
Issue identified in the Study
The act associated with current study is in regards to the non-compliance to maintenance of hand
hygiene. However, the concern extends towards the point of concern wherein rubbing alcohol is
ineffective against bacterial spores. Thus, the research focuses on the need for maintaining hand
hygiene for avoiding incidents related to contamination due to presence of bacterial spores
(Sasahara et al. 2016).

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Objective of the Study
The objective of the research was to determine the level of contamination, due to presence of
bacterial spores, on the hands of healthcare workers. In addition to that the study found that
general protocol of rubbing alcohol is ineffective against bacterial spores, increasing the chances
of hospital acquired infections. Thus, the study aims to reduce the risk of non cosminal infection,
promoting positive health outcomes.
Significance
Contamination of hand can be termed as one of the most concerning issues. Ariyaratne et al.
(2015), stated healthcare workers are often exposed to the risks of contamination due to surface
infection through bacterial spores, during the course of routine patient care. Therefore, the
research emphasizes the effective measures to reduce hand contamination. However, as stated
previously, alcohol based hand hygiene method is not suitable against bacterial spores. Although,
healthcare professionals fail to recognize the importance of spore forming bacteria, recent study
by Jeong & Kim (2016), reported spread of infection through bacterial spores. However, the
level related to the amount of contamination is not clear. It is for the same reason; the study aims
to make use of quantitative study to evaluate hand contamination through bacterial spores.
Research Findings
The relation of hand washing and bacterial infection was measured in the research. The finding
suggests that there is a negative correlation between frequency of handwashing and level of hand
contamination. In simple terms, it can be easily stated increase in hand contamination is marked
with decrease in hand washing. Similarly, there remains a positive correlation between elapsed
time since last handwashing and level of contamination (Sasahara et al. 2016). In findings
additional suggestion stated there is no evident difference between contamination caused due to

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bacterial spore on hands of doctors and nurses. The finding suggested alcohol based hand
rubbing among the doctors were relatively lower in comparison to the nurses. However, there
remains no evident discrepancy in events of hand washing between the doctors and nurses. Thus,
it can be conclusively stated nurses are diligent when it comes to alcohol based hand rubbing.
The doctors place relatively less importance on washing of hands than other practices use to
maintain hand hygiene
Implication
In order to maintain the perfect rate of hand hygiene, it is expected that the healthcare workers
should adhere to the policy of hand washing. In addition to that, the hand washing frequency
should be increased to two times per hour; in addition to alcohol rubbing

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Article 2:
Background of the Study
Infection acquired during the course of medical treatment within hospital acts as a danger to
patient’s safety. Hospital acquired infections (HAI) raise mortality and morbidity rates; coupled
with increase in cost of healthcare services (Winship & McClunie, 2016). As healthcare
professionals, nurses act as a primary source of care for the patients and thus the most widely
accepted sources of infection. Thus, a greater number of scope for hand hygiene occurs during
the routine care for patients within acute hospital settings
Issue identified in the Study
The issue identified in current research is relating to hand hygiene and how patient’s safety is in
danger. Simultaneously, it can be stated leadership promoting ownership within clinical issues by
frontline professionals, as opposed to traditional modes of practices can help the nurses to gain
control over their hand hygiene techniques (Winship & McClunie, 2016).
Objective of the Study
The research makes use of quantitative and qualitative study, for analyzing the possible factors
influence hand hygiene among the nurses.
Significance
The integrative review based approach can be implemented to appraise primary research for
identifying factors that influences even the qualified nurses to maintain hand hygiene. This in

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return can work on reducing the incidents of morbidity and even mortality, providing positive
health outcomes among the patients (Konicki and Miller, 2016). Despite the existing practice
provide a wide range of idea that hand related hygiene among the nurses are seen to improve.
However, there is a room for further improvement for competent practice in nursing
Research Finding
The primary finding of the current research was to analyse the ways leadership and management
can motivate the nurses to practice better hand hygiene interventions. In similar regards, the
frequency of hand hygiene increased during the course when the nurses were under the
perception that their own safety is under risk (Winship & McClunie-Trust, 2016). The finding
additionally suggests busy work schedule and even time constraints prevented in better hand
hygiene practices. The awareness of being watched, coupled with constant social pressure to
work as a role model for younger nurses, compelled the older and experienced nurses to maintain
the usual hand hygiene protocol.
Implication
Thus, the research worked out the ways using which nurses, irrespective of age can be motivated
for washing their hands. The incident for hand washing can promise better health outcomes and
limited risk of infections
Conclusion
Hand hygiene can be termed as a great way to reduce risks related to infection among the
patients. In addition to that, it can be stated the nurses need to be reminded time and again for
maintaining as per compliance of hand hygiene

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Reference list
Ariyaratne, M. H. J. D., Gunasekara, T. D. C. P., Weerasekara, M. M., Kottahachchi, J.,
Kudavidanage, B. P., & Fernando, S. S. N. (2015). Knowledge, attitudes and practices of
hand hygiene among final year medical and nursing students at the University of Sri
Jayewardenepura.
Hou, C., Rosenberg, M., Steer, R., Miller, M., Cricco, C., & Campos, K. (2017). How to Increase
Hand Hygiene Adherence for Nurses with an Electronic Warning System. American
Journal of Infection Control, 45(6), S59.
Jeong, S. Y., & Kim, K. M. (2016). Influencing factors on hand hygiene behavior of nursing
students based on theory of planned behavior: A descriptive survey study. Nurse
education today, 36, 159-164.
Konicki, T. and Miller, E., 2016. Use of a simulation intervention to examine differences in
nursing students' hand hygiene knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors. Nurse education
today, 45, pp.96-101.
Sasahara, T., Ae, R., Watanabe, M., Kimura, Y., Yonekawa, C., Hayashi, S., & Morisawa, Y.
(2016). Contamination of healthcare workers' hands with bacterial spores. Journal of
Infection and Chemotherapy, 22(8), 521-525.
Winship, S., & McClunie-Trust, P. (2016). Factors influencing hand hygiene compliance among
nurses: An integrative review. Kai Tiaki Nursing Research, 7(1), 19.

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Appendix
PICO for hand hygiene
P= Nurses dealing with infected patients
I= Making use of alcohol based solution, waterless modes of maintaining hand hygiene with
antiseptic soap and use of water. The use of disposable gloves or hand sanitizers
C= Standard mode of washing hands with normal soap and water
O= Reduction in rates of infection acquired by patients during their stay within hospitals
providing better health outcomes.