Continuous Promotion to Increase Hand Hygiene Compliance

feedback on Alsoft a

- HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ALSOFT A?

- WHERE DO YOU PLACE ALSOFT A?

It is placed in all medical wards at our hospital including clinical and non-clinical areas. Small-sized bottles are also placed on each patient’s bedside table so that healthcare workers have easy access during rounds. Every Friday, the nurse in charge of each department is asked to check the stock level of ABHR remaining in their area and toget new stock of ABHR when it is running low. This service is to ensure the ABHR supply in the hospitalis sufficient and available for both healthcare workers (HCWs) and the public to use and clean their hands.

Alsoft A in a GUD-1000 no-touch dispenser placed at the entrance of the ward.	Alsoft A installed on a wall bracket at the clinic’s entrance.

- WHAT KIND OF HAND HYGIENE EDUCATION/TRAINING ACTIVITIES ARE YOU ENGAGED IN?

We provide hand hygiene training for staff, especially for new employees. This year (2022), we have held three training sessions through August. We planned training sessions by checking the schedule so that all staff members could attend the training at least once. The staff was cooperative, and they provided encouraging feedback.

The WHO self-assessment framework has been very helpful, and we send the results to the Ministry of Health once every two years for reporting.

We at Hospital Ampang also create an important role among the HCWs focusing on Hand Hygiene which is called Hand Hygiene Task Force Committee. This committee was established in May 2022 and consists of 11 members from both clinical and non-clinical staff. Their important role is to help the infection control unit with Hand Hygiene promotion promotions to all hospital staff such as with the demonstration of the 6 steps of Hand Rubbing and Hand Washing, emphasizing the important 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene. This committee was created based on WHO’s Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework (HHSAF).

- IS THERE ANYTHING YOU FIND DIFFICULT?

The challenge is to sustain HH compliance among HCWs. We conduct the HH Training and share awareness regarding the importance of HH so that HCWs can practice and adopt both 6 steps techniques (Hand Washing & Hand Hygiene) and 5 Moments as a habit to wash their hands and improves their technique. We find it difficult to instill the importance of hand hygiene in all staff members. Even after they have mastered the technique, it is hard for them to make it a habit due to their busy day-to-day work. We emphasize the importance of this habit so that staff will retain the technique. Comparing 2018 to 2021, we can see a lot of improvement and awareness among HCWs regarding HH. As a result, our HH rate has improved from 78.8% (2018) to 88.9% (2021).

Hand hygiene six-step poster. These posters are attached above each sink for quick reference.	The “Your 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster is attached at the entrance to the medical ward.

Next step

- WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE?

Improving hand hygiene compliance rates among clinical and non-clinical staff. Due to COVID-19, our compliance rate has increased to 95%, up from around 70%.  Previously, we aimed to achieve HH compliance by up to 90% by 2024 as well as reduce MDRO cases in our hospital. We will continue to work with our staff to disseminate information, provide training, and promote hand hygiene. Eventually, we hope to achieve a 100% compliance rate.