Patient Involvement in Hand Hygiene: Patient-as-Observer Approach

Jessica NgManager, Infection Prevention & Control

Sheila Le-AbuyenInfection Prevention & Control Practitioner

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

1

Women’s College Hospital (WCH)

Public Health Ontario’s Just Clean Your Hands Program

Hand Hygiene (HH) Auditing

• Physical environment• Type of care provided• Resources required

4

What is the Patient-as-Observer (PAO) Approach?

• Adapted an alternative auditing method to address concerns unique to ambulatory setting

• Patients as observers for HH compliance of HCPs

What is the Process?

• Multidisciplinary working group• Staff engagement• Data collection

What is the Process?

• Multidisciplinary working group– Developed workflow, staff engagement strategy, survey

tools and timeline together– Ongoing input in shaping pilot

What is the Process?

• Staff engagement– HH product location and use– Provided necessary education/training

What is the Process?

• Staff engagement– Working group meetings– Presentation to

department– All users’ memo– Update meetings– Emails

What is the Process?

• Data collection– Trained volunteers to distribute and collect survey cards– Shared results through regular email updates

What is the Process?

11

What is the Process?

What is the Process?

• Data collection– Survey card return rate: 76%– Hand hygiene compliance rate: 97%

Next Steps

– Present pilot results to department

– Expansion to rest of department

– Adoption in other ambulatory clinics/departments conducive to PAO method

Challenges

• Managing preconceived notions about HH auditing• Dependence on volunteers

Lessons Learned

• Viable alternative to direct observation HH auditing

• Fewer resources cost-effective

• Patient-centered design to maximize response rates

• Engagement through multidisciplinary working group

• Utilization of volunteers in non-traditional ways

• Means to engage, empower and educate patients

Thank you! Questions?