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The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
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Recognising the psychosocial issues involved in hand hygiene

P Elliott

Department of Adult Nursing, Faculty of Health, Canterbury Christ Church University College, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU, England, pe9{at}cant.ac.uk

Non-adherence to hand hygiene among those involved in the provision of health care is the principal route by which infection is spread. However, despite an extensive research base, regular education and the application of prescriptive rules there has been a consistent failure to achieve long-term adherence in appropriate hand hygiene practice. Where improved adherence has been achieved there has been little evidence to show that it was for anything other than a limited period with individuals ultimately reverting back to their original practice. This paper therefore proposes that the principal cause of non-adherence to safe hand hygiene practice among those involved in the provision of health care is psychosocial in its nature. Further, until strategies are developed that will reflect this, the well-being of individuals seeking health care intervention will continue to be compromised.

Key Words: Education • hand hygiene • prescriptive rules • pyschosocial issues • non-adherence

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 123, No. 2, 88-94 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/146642400312300212
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