Simplifying the World Health Organization (WHO) Protocol for Hand Hygiene

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Non-inferiority in terms of reduction of bacterial counts will be investigated when combining the simpler three-step hand hygiene technique for the use of hand rub with a shorter application time of 15 seconds compared to the to the three steps technique with an application time of 30 seconds and the technique consisting in six steps.

Official Title
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Simplifying the WHO Protocol for Hand Hygiene: Three Steps and 15 Seconds - a Randomized Cross-over Trial

Conditions
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Hand Hygiene

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: four sets of hand hygiene measurements per participant


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adult participants (≥18 years) Exclusion Criteria: skin disorders as determined by a dermatologist inability to follow procedures insufficient knowledge of the project language inability to give informed consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Screening
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomized crossover trial, comparing the following four sets of hand hygiene measurements per participant: Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Six-step hand hygiene technique with application time of 30<br> | Procedure: four sets of hand hygiene measurements per participant<br>* Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds<br>|
| Other: Six-step hand hygiene technique with application time of 15<br> | Procedure: four sets of hand hygiene measurements per participant<br>* Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds<br>|
| Other: Three-step hand hygiene technique with application time of 3<br> | Procedure: four sets of hand hygiene measurements per participant<br>* Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds<br>|
| Other: Three-step hand hygiene technique with application time of 1<br> | Procedure: four sets of hand hygiene measurements per participant<br>* Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Six-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 30 seconds Three-step hand hygiene technique with an application time of 15 seconds<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change of bacterial counts on hands pre and post hand hygiene measure | The log counts of bacteria detected on the dominant hand will be averaged separately for pre- and post values. Differences between pre- and post values, as well as in the mean logarithmic reduction in bacterial counts will be compared | 30 minutes |