What is happening?
The clean hands are life savers program commenced in 2007 aimed at improving hand hygiene compliance of healthcare workers. To date this program has resulted in a two fold increase in hand hygiene compliance. Whilst this result is commendable further work is required to achieve sustainable improvements.
One component of this program is the observation and feedback of hand hygiene practices of healthcare workers. This strategy is essential in driving behavioural change through raising awareness of standards and measuring and providing feedback on practice. The methodology used for this observation and feedback will be changing in 2010 to the World Health Organisations (WHO) '5 moments for hand hygiene".
Why is it happening?
The change to the "5 moments" methodology is based on achieving national consistency. In 2009 the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare commenced a National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) in all States and Territories including the Private sector. The NHHI utilise the WHO "5 moments for hand hygiene' methodology.
Who is involved?
The change will involve:
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Infection Control Practitioners / Hand Hygiene Champions (central co-ordinators of the clean hands are life savers program)
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Hand Hygiene Lifesavers (Ward based healthcare workers who are involved in the program through promotion, education, observation and feedback)
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CHRISP
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Managers / Committees who assess hand hygiene compliance reports
How will it be implemented?
The change in methodology involves:
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A change in IT infrastructure - this will be managed centrally by CHRISP
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Education of Infection Control Practitioners and other healthcare workers in the new observation methodology
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Education of healthcare workers on the "5 moments for hand hygiene"
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The National Hand Hygiene Initiative requires a minimum number of observations of hand hygiene for each facility based on bed numbers. This will generally mean an increase number of observations required for each facility.
Benefits of this action
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Nationally consistent hand hygiene measurement
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An integrated model of education, observation and feedback that promotes comprehension, understanding and ownership of the program
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A simple message for when (5 moments) to perform hand hygiene
For further information on your local hand hygiene program please contact your Infection Control department.
This website and associated resources will be updated in 2010.
Thank you to all Queensland Health staff who have contributed to the success of the clean hands are life savers program. Your willingness to improve hand hygiene standards and practices needs to be maintained as we strive to achieve increased hand hygiene compliance.
Queensland Health staff can view statewide hand hygiene compliance results here.
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