Promotion of hand hygiene for patients with memory problems : a guide for caregivers to promote hand hygiene

Abstract

Hand hygiene is the practice that involves cleaning the hands using water and soap or hand wash to remove harmful microorganisms that are capable of causing healthcare-associated infections. Hand hygiene adherence rates among patients with memory problems remains a concern in many care homes worldwide. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone to infection prevention and control in care homes. Poor hand hygiene increases the risk of acquiring of healthcare-associated infections among patients, with the infections presenting significant threats to care homes, and influencing the rates of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The purpose of this thesis was to create an educational poster that could be used by caregivers to promote and maintain hand hygiene practices among patients with memory problems. The thesis discussed the interventions to promote hand hygiene for patients with memory problems. The interventions targeted caregivers of patients living in care homes. The evidence based on the key messages of the poster revealed hand hygiene interventions and strategies for patients with memory problems including the use of reminders, environmental modifications, simplified teaching methods, routine integration, use of musical cues, and peer support and group activities. The thesis recommended the need to conduct further research on how the level of awareness of caregivers about hand hygiene influence their abilities to ensure hand hygiene adherence for patients with memory problems and what caregivers consider as the most effective strategies for promoting hand hygiene for patients with memory problems.