Do the Nurse Practice the Five Moments for Hand Hygiene? An Observational Study during Pandemic COVID-19

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are frequently found in patients worldwide each year with varying rates. In November 2021, there were 23 incidents of nosocomial infection at a General Hospital in Banda Aceh. Of these incidents, eight occurred in the surgical inpatient room. Nurses have a significant role in reducing the number of hospital infections. Nurses must utilize the knowledge and skills of nursing practice to facilitate patient recovery while minimizing infection-related complications in patients. AIM: This clinical observation aims to identify the practice of 5 moments of hand hygiene in the surgical inpatient ward, General Hospital Banda Aceh. METHODS: This clinical observation aims to identify the practice of 5 moments of hand hygiene in the surgical inpatient ward, General Hospital Banda Aceh. This clinical observation with a population of 26 nurses. A sample of 16 nurses was obtained through the incidental sampling method. The tool used to collect data is in the form of a hand hygiene observation sheet that was observed at five moments according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. RESULTS: The five-moment hand hygiene showed that the nurse hand hygiene practice was 68.7%-100%. The sequent percentage values ​​of practicing hand hygiene are: 68.7% of nurses do not apply hand hygiene before contact with patients; 75% of nurses did not apply hand hygiene before aseptic action; 75% of nurses apply hand hygiene after contact with the patient's environment; 93.7% of nurses apply hand hygiene after contact with patients, and 100% of nurses apply hand hygiene after being exposed to the patient's body fluids. Finally, only four respondents (25%) thoroughly applied five hand hygiene moments. CONCLUSIONS: The leadership role of the head nurse is needed to optimize the practicing of hand hygiene in the hospital inpatient room, which is shown through role models, continuous supervision, and evaluation. In addition, good infrastructure is also needed to support these activities.