Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, studied the impact of electronic monitoring on hand hygiene compliance in hospitals, according to informs.
The study implemented radiofrequency identification-based systems in 71 hospital units and measured shifts in hand hygiene compliance for three and a half years.
Here are five observations:
1. Researchers discovered electronic monitoring of hand hygiene compliance resulted in an increase in compliance.
2. The study found hand hygiene compliance initially increased before decreasing gradually.
3. Units with higher levels of compliance before monitoring implementation experienced greater increases in compliance post-implementation.
4. Researchers found hand hygiene compliance decreased below pre-implementation levels, following electronic monitoring removal.
5. The study authors concluded individual electronic monitoring requires continued managerial commitment if hand hygiene compliance rates are to remain high.
