Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of 6 Versus 3 Steps for Hand Hygiene

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim is to compare the effectiveness of the 6 step hand rub technique versus 3 step hand rub technique in hand coverage and in reducing bacterial contamination on the hands of healthcare workers in practice. Research questions What is the effectiveness of the 6 step technique in hand coverage compared to the 3 step technique? What are the most frequently missed sites in hand surface coverage using 6 steps compared to 3 steps? What is the reduction in bacterial contamination of the hand with the 6 step compared to the 3 step technique? Does site missed or coverage relate to bacterial load? What is the time taken for 6 step technique versus 3 step technique?

Detailed Description
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The 6 step for decontamination of healthcare workers hand is recommended by the World Health Organization but the 3 step technique is easy to perform and has been shown by some studies to be effective. Compliance with the 6 step technique is not optimum. If the 3 step was more as or more effective than the 6 step compliance with it could be compared with that for the 6 step. No randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of these two techniques using alcohol based hand rub has been conducted.

Official Title
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Randomised Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Two Hand Hygiene Techniques Using Alcohol Based Hand Rub on Hand Surface Coverage and Reducing Bacterial Hand Contamination

Conditions
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Hand Hygiene

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: 6 step technique
* Other: 3 step technique


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Medical and nursing staff performing a clinical procedure Exclusion Criteria: A procedure requiring use of gloves A self declared active skin condition
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: 6 step hand hygiene technique<br>Hand decontamination with alcohol hand rub using the World Health Organisations 6 step technique | Other: 6 step technique<br>* Hand decontamination with alcohol hand rub using the World Health Organizations 6 step technique<br>* Other names: World Health Organisation 6 step technique for hand hygiene;|
| Experimental: 3 step hand hygiene technique<br>Hand decontamination with alcohol hand rub using the 3 step technique | Other: 3 step technique<br>* Hand decontamination with alcohol hand rub using the 3 step technique<br>* Other names: 3 step technique for hand hygiene;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Microbial load on dominant hand | A glove juice technique will be used to assess the microbial load on the dominant hand of healthcare workers following use of alcohol hand rub after a clinical procedure. | up to 5 min | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hand coverage | Ultra violet box will be used to assess hand coverage of the hands of healthcare workers following use of alcohol hand rub. | up to 5 min | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Hand hygiene, Hand decontamination, Microbial load, Hand coverage, Glove juice technique, Ayliffe technique, 6 step technique