[Intervention to improve hand hygiene compliance in Catalonia, Spain]. / Estrategia para mejorar la práctica de higiene de manos en Catalunya.

Hand hygiene (HM) is the single most important measure and effective in reducing the risk of Healthcare acquired infections (IRAS). Although HM is an effective, simple and cheap measure, it is usual to find results of low compliance among health professionals. The main objective of this strategy has been to give new force to the promotion of HM in hospitals and educate professionals about the importance of this single action. The strategy was planned as a multicenter intervention study to promote HM in health centers of Catalonia in 2009-2010. The intervention is based on 4 main areas: a survey of barriers and facilitators, distribution of graphic material, training at different levels and measure of quality indicators. With this strategy a total of 57% of the number of acute beds in the concerted public and private network of hospitals were reached. The survey revealed that training was perceived as the main facilitator of the HM action. 15,376 professionals registered to the on-line training. The overall compliance with HM indications (based on "five moments for HM") was 56.45% in the acute areas. The campaigns and programs to promote HM carried out in the last four years in Catalonia has helped to achieve an increasing number of hospitals associated to the strategy of the Alliance for Patient Safety in Catalonia. The on-line curse acceptance was very high and seems a powerful tool to improve hand hygiene knowledge and compliance among health professionals. The compliance of HM seems to increase in the hospitals of Catalonia evaluated.

Estrategia para mejorar la práctica de higiene de manos en Catalunya / Intervention to improve hand hygiene compliance in Catalonia, Spain

La higiene de manos (HM) es la medida individual más importante y efectiva para reducir el riesgo de infecciones relacionadas con la atención sanitaria. Sin embargo, es habitual encontrar resultados de cumplimiento de las indicaciones de HM bajos entre los profesionales sanitarios. El principal objetivo de esta estrategia fue dar un nuevo impulso a la promoción de la HM en los hospitales y concienciar a los profesionales sobre la importancia de esta acción. La estrategia se planteó como un estudio de intervención multicéntrico para promover la HM en los centros sanitarios de Catalunya en el período 2009-2010. La intervención se basó en 4 grandes ejes: encuesta de barreras y facilitadores, difusión de material gráfico, formación a diferentes niveles y evaluación con indicadores. Con esta estrategia se alcanzó el 57% del número de camas de agudos de la red pública concertada y privada de la comunidad. La encuesta reveló que la formación era percibida como el principal aspecto facilitador de la práctica de HM. En el curso de formación online se registraron 15.376 profesionales. El cumplimiento global de las indicaciones de HM (basada en los "cinco momentos para la HM") fue del 56,45% en el área de agudos. Las acciones de promoción de HM llevadas a cabo en los últimos 4 años han ido aumentando el número de centros adheridos a esta estrategia de la Alianza para la Seguridad del Paciente en Catalunya. La formación online fue una de las intervenciones más bien valoradas por los profesionales para promover el conocimiento y cumplimiento de las indicaciones de HM. El indicador de cumplimiento de las indicaciones de HM parece seguir aumentando en los hospitales de Catalunya evaluados (AU)

Hand hygiene (HM) is the single most important measure and effective in reducing the risk of Healthcare acquired infections (IRAS). Although HM is an effective, simple and cheap measure, it is usual to find results of low compliance among health professionals. The main objective of this strategy has been to give new force to the promotion of HM in hospitals and educate professionals about the importance of this single action. The strategy was planned as a multicenter intervention study to promote HM in health centers of Catalonia in 2009-2010. The intervention is based on 4 main areas: a survey of barriers and facilitators, distribution of graphic material, training at different levels and measure of quality indicators. With this strategy a total of 57% of the number of acute beds in the concerted public and private network of hospitals were reached. The survey revealed that training was perceived as the main facilitator of the HM action. 15,376 professionals registered to the on-line training. The overall compliance with HM indications (based on "five moments for HM") was 56.45% in the acute areas. The campaigns and programs to promote HM carried out in the last four years in Catalonia has helped to achieve an increasing number of hospitals associated to the strategy of the Alliance for Patient Safety in Catalonia. The on-line curse acceptance was very high and seems a powerful tool to improve hand hygiene knowledge and compliance among health professionals. The compliance of HM seems to increase in the hospitals of Catalonia evaluated (AU)