Hand Hygiene Randomized Cluster Intervention to Reduce Infections

Kent State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Respiratory Tract Infections; Gastrointestinal Infections

Treatments: Behavioral: Hand Hygiene Improvement Intervention; Behavioral: Ask Me 3

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02131727

13-050

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine if a simple intervention to improve hand hygiene, consisting of a 3-4 minute training video, on-site posters, and hand hygiene supplies, can reduce respiratory and GI illness among employees.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to determine if a simple random cluster intervention trial to improve hand hygiene, consisting of a 3-4 minute training video, on-site posters, and hand hygiene supplies, can reduce respiratory and GI illness among those in the intervention group compared to the control group. The intervention was performed among employees in a Midwestern public government setting. Employees in the treatment group received a 3-4 minute training video online that was embedded in the baseline survey. Motivational posters from the USDHHS encouraging proper hand hygiene were installed in the workplace, along with hand hygiene supplies. The control group received a program called "Ask Me 3" developed by the National Patient Safety Foundation; the intervention consisted of a 3-4 minute training video to encourage clear communication with their health care providers, a brochure discussing the Ask Me 3 principles of clear communication with health care providers, and a key-ring with the Ask Me 3 communication principles to promote more effective communication with health care providers at visits out side of work. The groups were followed monthly through surveys over the Internet for an average of three months after baseline to determine if a relative reduction in self-reported respiratory / GI infections occurred in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Enrollment: 324 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All employees in respective departments participating in this study were included in the inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

• No employees were excluded if they worked in the participating departments in this study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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324 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Hand Hygiene Improvement Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Hand Hygiene Improvement Intervention: Participants receive a 4 minute training video about actions to take to reduce risk of respiratory and GI infections that includes hand hygiene practices, along with educational posters and hand hygiene supplies.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hand Hygiene Improvement Intervention

Ask Me 3

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the control group received a 4 minute training video about the Ask Me 3 program for clearer communication with health care providers, a brochure, and a key chain containing principles for clear communication with health care providers.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Ask Me 3