Determinants of Hand Hygiene among Registered Nurses Caring for Critically Ill Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

摘要

Health care associated infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Hand hygiene (HH) is the most effective means of reducing HAIs. However, HH rates among NICU nurses are low and few studies have examined the factors that predict HH among these nurses. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported HH compliance rates among NICU nurses and the extent to which the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) concepts and demographic variables predict nurses HH compliance. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to nurses working in two South Western Ontario NICUs. Forward stepwise regression identified the following predictors of self-reported HH compliance: intentions, attitudes, perceived behavioural control, subjective norms, and age. This study suggests that efforts aimed at improving HH compliance among NICU nurses be focused on the TPB concepts and the older NICU nurses.