ABSTRACT
Introduction: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, HUG took care of a large number of patients suspected of having or affected by COVID;the majority of HUG wards became temporarily COVID wards. When the situation returned to normal, the practice of SP needed to be strengthened. Among SP, HH is the most important. Monitoring HH by direct observation (DO) and performance feedback are essential to improve and sustain compliance. Glove use remains a challenge for HH compliance, particularly before donning or after doffing. Immediate individual feedback (IIF) is very useful for the understanding of HH by HCWs during patient care. Objectives: To evaluate HH compliance improvement when immediate or delayed feedback is provided and to assess the impact of glove use on compliance. Methods: The study was conducted at HUG from 1 January to 30 June 2021. Trained, validated and interrater reliability-tested observers monitored HH using the WHO DO method, for a minimum of 30 opportunities/ ward/month. Feedback were applied using a series of approaches: immediate oral individual feedback (IIF) to HCW, a monthly delayed feedback by the IPC nurse through a poster figuring the average ward compliance observed and goal setting for the next month. A written report of HH compliance including the rate of missed actions while the HCW was wearing gloves was also provided. Final results for the total study period with statistical evaluation will be provided at ICPIC. Results: Between 1 Jan and 30 April 2021, a total of 10,332 opportunities were observed. Table 1 shows preliminary results of overall monthly HH compliance, levels of IIF and frequencies of missed HH actions in the presence of gloves. Conclusion: The intervention was associated with improvement in HH compliance. Glove use was associated with a high number of missed HH actions. Reduction of glove use together with individual feedback were associated with a decreased frequency of missed actions.