Does Educational Intervention Decrease Hospital Acquired Infections - Research Paper Example

Observation audits have indicated a small percentage of healthcare providers, less than 50% which never exceeds 40%, comply with good hand washing hygiene (Voss & Widmer 1997). The aforementioned statistics are quite alarming considering the fact that such infections are transferred by health care providers. This only shows that hospital-associated infection is a serious issue that needs to be taken seriously. HAI cause preventable deaths and complications in the hospital environment. Hospital workers, including the healthcare providers, use their hands during most of their dealings with the patients.

The hands carry millions and millions of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi which can easily be transmitted to the next patient the healthcare worker touches, when adequate measures are not put in place. Poor hand hygiene results in the contamination of the hands of the personnel especially when they attend to patients with airborne diseases, so it is easy to see how this can cause HAI. Studies show that hand washing is important in health care facilities in order to minimize infections.

However, the statistics show that there is a great problem in the implementation of hand washing among health care personnel because of the increased number of HAI. Using the current literature and program from IHI and Voss and Widmer, the question arises: Does an educational intervention increase hand washing among nurses and care providers? Hand washing by health care providers has differed because of two aspects, perception and practice (Ebbing et al, 2010). Normally, healthcare providers wash their hands when the hands are soiled, gritty, or sticky or after using the toilet.

Generally, these actions are the result of what was learned during childhood. Beyond that, there are no other norms or habits regarding washing hands beyond these personal hygiene actions. There are practices, however, that does not necessarily cause the healthcare provider to wash their hands, including touching patients, taking the blood pressure of patients or just the touching of the healthcare environment (Ansie, 2008).