The development and effect of the education program on hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an education program on the accuracy of performance of hand hygiene (HH) and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) over time. This randomized controlled pretest–posttest study was performed with 34 experimental and 34 control group participants in the Western Development Region of Nepal. The intervention was a three hours education program on how to perform HH and use PPE, using multifaceted methods such as watching a movie, demonstration, practice, and peer feedback. The accuracy of HH and PPE use was measured three times with an observation checklist and was analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA. The experimental group showed higher increase in accuracy of HH (F = 40.78, p < 0.001), putting on PPE (F = 112.75, p < 0.001), and taking off PPE (F = 34.72, p < 0.001) than the control group. As the education program had positive effects on the accuracy of HH and PPE use among nurses in Nepal, we suggest that the program be widely applied to healthcare workers in Nepal. Considering the decrease in the effect of the program on proper HH and PPE over time, it is recommended to provide re-education on HH and PPE at least three months and one month later, respectively.