ASSESSING HAND HYGIENE IN OLDER PEOPLE'S CARE SETTINGS

▪ This is a summary: the full paper can be accessed atnursingtimes.net

Mackenzie, Lorna DipHE, RMN
James, Ian Andrew PhD, MSc, BSc, CPsychol
Smith, Karin DipHE, RMN
Robinson, Damian MA, MB, BChir, MRCPsych, FFPHM

Lorna Mackenzie, DipHE, RMN, is challenging behaviour nurse specialist; Ian Andrew James, PhD, MSc, BSc, CPsychol, is consultant clinical psychologist; Karin Smith, DipHE, RMN, is challenging behaviour nurse specialist; all at Newcastle General Hospital; Damian Robinson, MA, MB, BChir, MRCPsych, FFPHM, is consultant old age psychiatrist, at Newcastle General Hospital, and associate director for public health, at Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust.

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN DOUBLE-BLIND PEER-REVIEWED

Nursing Times 104(32):p 30-31, August 12, 2008.

ABSTRACT

Mackenzie, L. et al (2008) Assessing hand hygiene in older people's care settings. Nursing Times; 104: 32, 30-31.

This study aimed to evaluate whether sufficient attention is paid to patient hand hygiene in older people's care settings.

We surveyed 114 staff in mental health care settings for older people - two NHS inpatient units and five private care facilities in the north of England. An eightitem questionnaire was used.

Staff believe that good patient hand hygiene is important but do not frequently assist patients who have physical and cognitive impairment to wash their hands after visits to the toilet or before meals.

While the study was set in the north of England, we found evidence that these findings could be generalised across the UK.