Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of 6 Versus 3 Steps for Hand Hygiene

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Hand Hygiene
• Interventions: Other: 3 step technique; Other: 6 step technique

• Registration Number: NCT02396836
• Lead Sponsor: Glasgow Caledonian University

Brief Summary

The aim is to compare the effectiveness of the 6 step hand rub technique versus 3 step hand rub technique in hand coverage and in reducing bacterial contamination on the hands of healthcare workers in practice.

Research questions

1. What is the effectiveness of the 6 step technique in hand coverage compared to the 3 step technique?

1. What are the most frequently missed sites in hand surface coverage using 6 steps compared to 3 steps?

2. What is the reduction in bacterial contamination of the hand with the 6 step compared to the 3 step technique?

2. Does site missed or coverage relate to bacterial load?

3. What is the time taken for 6 step technique versus 3 step technique?

Detailed Description

The 6 step for decontamination of healthcare workers hand is recommended by the World Health Organization but the 3 step technique is easy to perform and has been shown by some studies to be effective. Compliance with the 6 step technique is not optimum. If the 3 step was more as or more effective than the 6 step compliance with it could be compared with that for the 6 step. No randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of these two techniques using alcohol based hand rub has been conducted.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-11
• Primary Completion: 2014-03
• Study Completion: 2014-03
• Study First Submitted: 2014-08-15
• Status Verified: 2015-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-03-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-03-23
• Study First Posted: 2015-03-24
• Last Update Posted: 2015-03-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

• Medical and nursing staff performing a clinical procedure

Exclusion Criteria

• A procedure requiring use of gloves
• A self declared active skin condition

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
3 step hand hygiene technique	3 step technique	Hand decontamination with alcohol hand rub using the 3 step technique
6 step hand hygiene technique	6 step technique	Hand decontamination with alcohol hand rub using the World Health Organisations 6 step technique

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Microbial load on dominant hand	up to 5 min	A glove juice technique will be used to assess the microbial load on the dominant hand of healthcare workers following use of alcohol hand rub after a clinical procedure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hand coverage	up to 5 min	Ultra violet box will be used to assess hand coverage of the hands of healthcare workers following use of alcohol hand rub.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Western Infirmary; 🇬🇧 Glasgow, United Kingdom