Perception and Supportive Behavior of Clinical Ward Nurses Toward Hand Hygiene of Patients with Restricted Activity

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Nursing Art and Science Vol. 18; pp. 78 - 85
• Main Authors: Imanaka, Motoharu, Akihara, Shiho, Fujita, Hisakazu, Marutani, Nozomi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of Nursing Art and Science 2019; 日本看護技術学会
• Subjects: hand hygiene，restricted activity，supportive behavior; 手指衛生，活動制限患者，支援行動
• ISSN: 1349-5429; 2423-8511
• DOI: 10.18892/jsnas.18.0_78

［Objectives］This study aims to elucidate the perceptions and supportive behaviors of clinical ward nurses toward hand hygiene of patients with limited activity.　  ［Methods］We conducted a self-documented questionnaire survey of 250 clinical ward nurses.　  ［Results］Overall, 160 respondents who addressed full items in the questionnaire identified “the hands of the patients considered to be contaminated” with the median score of 5 and that of other items ranged 2-4. In addition, 131 (81.9%) nurses supported the hand hygiene behavior of patients ; of these, while 128 (97.7%) nurses assisted patient hand hygiene, 56 (42.7%) guided patient hand hygiene. Supportive behaviors of patient hand hygiene aimed at the cleanliness care (115 nurses) and the infection prevention for patients themselves (108 nurses) , etc. Regarding the suitable timing of patient hand hygiene assistance by nurses, they always assisted “when the patient’s hands are visibly contaminated” (61.7%) at the most, and “after interaction with visitors” (0.8%) at the least.　  ［Discussion］Nurses’ supports for patient hand hygiene were unsatisfactory from the perspective to prevent the spread of health care-associated infection because their perceptions toward patient hand hygiene could be insufficient.