The EBP for Hand Washing as Compared to the Use of Hand Sanitizers Research Paper

Introduction

Bacterial and viral infections significantly burden global health systems. They are responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year (Hessling et al., 2017). Moreover, evidence has shown that respiratory infections cause more serious disease, require longer hospitalization, and lead to a high mortality rate in elderly individuals than in younger folks (Duan et al., 2017). In light of an anticipated rise in the population size of elderly persons in the coming years, the demand for efficient management and control techniques for bacterial and viral infections becomes even more critical. This essay presents an evidence-based practice (EBP) handwashing compliance strategic plan in my future role as a health professional and leader.

EBP Change, Model, and Rationale

Throughout the world, there are countless elderly who reside in assisted living facilities. Alongside old age, debilitation, and the prevalence of chronic diseases, the closeness of residents in assisted living facilities may raise the risk of elderly individuals contracting infectious diseases and their comorbidities (Harley et al., 2020). Furthermore, the overcrowding of elderly individuals in nursing homes encourages the rapid transmission of communicable diseases. Whereas vaccines can avert these illnesses, low immunization levels in eldercare contexts can result in epidemics, emphasizing the critical nature of increased prevention and control measures such as handwashing.

Handwashing is a useful preventative and management technique for respiratory infections. It contributes to the prevention of treatable infections, like seasonal influenza, among patients and health care employees. These diseases impose a financial strain on society and harm families. As a result, the elderly care setting and its inhabitants are critical priorities for research and assistance. In my future role as a health leader, I will develop a strategic plan for hand washing. Once in place, I will outline specific rules regarding the significance of washing hands, as non-compliance is the major source of infection assisted care facilities. I will employ the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARiHS) Framework in my capacity. This EBP model would be ideal because handwashing for infection prevention and control requires evidence, context, and facilitation, all of which are built into the model (Seers et al., 2018). As a nurse educator, I will develop the following handwashing steps based on the model mentioned above.

1. Step 1: Sufficiently wet both hands with running water while applying soap to the hands;
2. Step 2: Use circular movements in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions to massage the palms;
3. Step 3: Rub your thumbs and fingers clockwise and counterclockwise while wrapping them in the other hand;
4. Step 4: Gently massage palms in a rotational movement with your fingers;
5. Step 5: Do a thorough job of rinsing your hands under running water;
6. Step 6: If hand dryers are readily accessible, use them to dry your hands (WHO, 2018).

Resources That Would Be Needed

The hospital’s infrastructure is extremely vital to the functioning of the facility. I will ensure that the facility has instant access to detergent, napkins, and clean water. In addition, I plan to install numerous sinks throughout the building. Sinks that are too far away from patients and healthcare workers are less likely to be used. Dispensers secured in a strategic place are also necessary. To avoid pollutants from filthy fingers, I will have pumps and elbow dispensers. The healthcare executive should make certain that patients have access to sufficient personal protective equipment and ensure that there are good antiseptics for efficient sanitizing.

Leadership Qualities, Collaboration, and Strategies to Sustain the EBP Change

When it comes to handwashing policies, it is the healthcare decision-makers who are ultimately in charge. This implies that a manager can seriously influence other people’s decisions to maintain hand hygiene. Nosocomial illnesses are more frequent in a facility where the leaders do not encourage hand hygiene regularly (Neo et al., 2016). At the same time, the healthcare leader should be a team player who coordinates with relevant stakeholders. Thus, I will work together with an infection control committee to improve my efficiency.

Typically, the Infection Control Committee is composed of persons representing a variety of specialities inside the hospital or clinic. Doctors, care teams, infection control experts, quality control personnel, and risk management staff may all be represented. Others may include representatives from virology, central sterilization, surgery, and environmental health, among others. The infection control committee is instrumental in developing, tracking, and reviewing infection control guidelines and policies. Stakeholders’ involvement combined with an inspired leader is an effective way to ensure change. Fundamentally, the committee must clarify the objectives, schedule, and cost estimate to the administration. This allows for uninterrupted planning and execution of crucial training and even documentation of guidelines. For the committee to be effective, interventions must comply with state regulations and produce the desired results.

Additionally, the nurse leader should have a thorough understanding of infections, including treating and preventing them. For example, I will make sure everyone on the team is familiar with the infection prevention process. Another way the primary communication strategy will be to teach employees about infection control practices. I will train the staff on proper handwashing techniques and the significance of strictly following the handwashing rules and regulations. Employees in charge of the cleaning will be given training on why it is so important to keep a clean environment while keeping themselves safe. They will learn about handwashing and how to keep clean, so they do not get sick. I will work closely with the committee to develop training courses for the entire team to make this happen. Handwashing guidelines will be documented and distributed throughout the organization. It will serve as a continuous source of motivation.

Evaluation

Evaluation is a critical tool for determining whether or not a goal has been achieved. Hand hygiene techniques are audited to see if they adhere to suggested standards. Primarily, it includes handwashing method observations and inspections. Survey questions can also determine the awareness of the patients and employees concerning hand washing. A trip to the handwashing and sanitization stations is required to evaluate the efficacy of the system. Patient and staff privacy should be maintained during auditing. Questionnaires will include questions about the process of hand washing. It is best to conduct an audit at a particular time when it is not in the way of other activities.

How well employees follow handwashing guidelines may be inferred from audit findings. With fewer detergents available and employees and patients requesting more, the assumption would be that the strategy is effective. On the other hand, nonadherence would be indicated by rising infection rates among staff and patients. If compliance rates are low, additional measures should be adopted. It is important to keep trying to get people to comply if the results are negative.

Conclusion

Proper handwashing and adherence are the strategies discussed. The primary objective is to improve adherence and lower infection rates in elderly care facilities. If all of the measures are implemented as planned, the target demographic should decrease the incidence of respiratory illnesses. Interventions are evaluated to see if they have had any effect on adherence. Positive or negative reviews from employees and patients will help refine communication strategies due to the initiative. Thus, it is possible to keep or enhance interventions to guarantee quality care in the institution and good results in future audits.

References

Duan, W., Zheng, A., Mu, X., Li, M., Liu, C., Huang, W., & Wang, X. (2017). How great is the medical burden of disease on the aged? Research based on “System of Health Account 2011”. Health and quality of life outcomes, 15(1), 1-10.

Harley, D. A., Troop, C., & Alston, R. J. (2020). Infectious Diseases and Disability. Disability Studies for Human Services: An Interdisciplinary and Intersectionality Approach, 375. Springer.

Hessling, M., Feiertag, J., & Hoenes, K. (2017). Pathogens provoking most deaths worldwide. Biosci. Biotechnol. Res. Commun, 10, 1-7. Web.

Neo, J. R., Sagha-Zadeh, R., Vielemeyer, O., & Franklin, E. (2016). Evidence-based practices to increase hand hygiene compliance in health care facilities: An integrated review. American journal of infection control, 44(6), 691–704.

Seers, K., Rycroft-Malone, J., Cox, K., Crichton, N., Edwards, R. T., Eldh, A. C.,… & Wallin, L. (2018). Facilitating Implementation of Research Evidence (FIRE): an international cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate two models of facilitation informed by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework. Implementation Science, 13(1), 1-11.

WHO (2018). SAVE LIVES – Clean Your Hands campaign. Who. int.