Implementation of six sigma management to standardize surgical hand disinfection practices

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Six Sigma management in standardizing surgical hand disinfection practices among medical personnel. Methods: The Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) framework was utilized to assess and enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of surgical hand disinfection. Factors contributing to low accuracy and a high defect rate in disinfection practices were systematically analyzed. Key issues identified included limited awareness of infection control protocols, insufficient knowledge of proper surgical hand disinfection practices, and inadequate oversight of surgical staff. Interventions based on this analysis included the use of text and video reminders, reinforcement of medical personnel training, implementation of enhanced camera-based monitoring and supervision, and the establishment of a reward-and-penalty evaluation system. Results: Post-intervention analysis revealed that the accuracy of surgical hand disinfection among medical personnel increased from 42.94 to 82.97%, with surgeons demonstrating the greatest improvement, achieving a 47.70% increase. The overall defect rate decreased substantially, with the most notable reduction observed in incomplete hand coverage with disinfectant, which decreased by 2.75%. Additionally, the average number of bacterial colonies on the hands of medical staff decreased from 4.44 ± 2.51 CFU/cm2 to 2.68 ± 0.54 CFU/cm2, and the qualification rate improved markedly from 71.67 to 98.33%. All observed improvements were statistically significant. Conclusion: The application of Six Sigma management effectively enhances the accuracy and quality of surgical hand disinfection, reduces procedural defects, and enhances disinfection outcomes in clean surgical procedures.