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. 2016 Dec 8:5:54.
doi: 10.1186/s13756-016-0160-1. eCollection 2016.

Role of quality control circle in sustained improvement of hand hygiene compliance: an observational study in a stomatology hospital in Shandong, China

Peng Chen #  1   2   3 , Ting Yuan #  4 , Qinfeng Sun  2   3 , Lili Jiang  2   3 , Hongmin Jiang  2   3 , Zhenkun Zhu  2   3 , Zexin Tao  5   6 , Haiyan Wang  5   6 , Aiqiang Xu  1   5   6
Affiliations

Role of quality control circle in sustained improvement of hand hygiene compliance: an observational study in a stomatology hospital in Shandong, China

Peng Chen et al. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. .

Abstract

Background: Hand hygiene is an important element of the WHO multimodal strategy for healthcare-associated infection control, whereas compliance of hand hygiene among healthcare workers (HCWs) remains a challenge to sustain. In order to increase the hand hygiene compliance of HCWs, a quality control circle (QCC) program was carried out in our hospital, and the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) method was applied for 12 months.

Findings: Hand hygiene compliance rates improved over time, with significant improvement between preintervention (60.1%) and postintervention (97.2%) periods (P < 0.001). Nurses (88.3%) exhibited higher compliance than dentists (87.3%), and female (88.4%) HCWs were more likely to perform hand hygiene than males (85.6%), both P < 0.001. Overall hand hygiene compliance and observance of the five indications exhibited significant linear increases over time (P < 0.005).

Conclusion: This study highlights the success of a multifaceted intervention, conducted by QCC program and PDCA method, which led to a significant improvement of hand hygiene compliance. Though training is the most basic intervention element, surveillance, evaluation and feedback should be explored as additional interventions to ensure that hand hygiene compliance is achieved and sustained at high levels.

Keywords: Hand hygiene; Healthcare workers; Healthcare-associated infection; Quality control circle.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The reasons for low hand hygiene compliance demonstrated in a fishbone diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Monthly hand hygiene compliance estimates (95% confidence intervals) and sample sizes
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Monthly hand hygiene compliance of before patient contact (a), before an aseptic task (b), after body fluid exposure risk (c), after patient contact (d), after contact with patient surroundings (e) and after removing gloves (f)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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