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Hand Hygiene is the most effective and least expensive measure in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
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Health-Associated Infections (HAIs) pose a serious threat to all who are admitted to hospital. On average, infections complicate 7% to 10% of hospital admissions with 10% - 70% of these infections being preventable.
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Hand hygiene guidelines are well established but evidence shows that compliance is significantly low (under 50%).
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Clean Hands are Life Savers is Queensland Health's initiative to focus attention on improved hand hygiene practices in wards and departments that provide clinical care to patients.
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Research has shown the hand hygiene issue is about human behaviour, organisational culture and leadership and requires a systematic, multifaceted and centralised approach to reduce the cost and service demands.
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Although success in this area has been difficult both internationally and within Australia, CHRISP believes an innovative approach, which focuses on understanding the core beliefs underlying behavioural change as the basis for driving engagement and cultural transformation, will result in a successful implementation strategy.