Royal Hampshire County Hospital

The first NHS hospital trial of the Pure Hold Hygiene Handle took place in August 2011, at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.  Data was gathered over a three-week period in three separate ward-entry locations in the hospital.

                         

In the first week, benchmark data was gathered through observation of current hand-hygiene practice.  In the second week six Hygiene Handles were installed (two in each location) and the effect on hand-hygiene practice was observed over a two week period.  A sample of people using the Hygiene Handles were also given a short questionnaire and asked for their comments.

 

Results - summary

• Door entry hand-hygiene compliance increased from 34% to 72% (average across all three trial locations).
• The consistency of door-entry hand-hygiene compliance was much improved by installation of the Hygiene Handles.  Without the handles, compliance varied from 14 to 38%.  With the handles, compliance was consistently between 70 and 74% in all areas.
• The trial location with the lowest door-entry compliance rate of just 14% improved dramatically with installation of the Hygiene Handles to become the best performing location with a compliance rate of 74%.
• Installation of the Hygiene Handle had a significant effect on the door-entry hand-hygiene compliance rates of both staff and visitors to the hospital.
• 78% of people surveyed (both staff and visitors) said that they thought the Hygiene Handle was a good idea and that they would like to see more installed around the hospital.

Comments

• "Very good idea especially as some people don’t think to wash / gel their hands" (staff member)
• “This is the coolest thing on the whole planet - I want one of these at home” (visitor)
• “Weird sensation but very effective" (staff member)
• "Very clever" (visitor)
• "Get rid of the non-gel handles or if you want to keep them pump electricity through them to teach people a lesson" (staff member)
• "It’s in your face - people will use it" (staff member)
• “it’s a very clever concept, useful in addition to other gel dispensers. It’s a great tool to indicate to visitors that using gel is expected of them and will be especially useful on entrances to all wards” (staff member - consultant)
• “love the idea but I think wall dispensers should be kept to complement it” (staff member)
• "Really good - put in the toilets" (staff member)
• “Good idea - makes it easy and simple to enter wards” (staff member)
• “It’s really good as people can’t dodge it with it being on the door” (visitor)
• “A good place for the handle would definitely be in public toilets because people tend to be lax in this area”(staff member = psychologist)
• "Good idea" (consultant)
• "Good colour - like the look of it" (visitor)
• "Out of all the pointless things that this hospital buys this is actually quite a good idea" (visitor)
• "Splendid, bold and bright - roll it out throughout the hospital" (staff member)
• "Really good – can see it catching on" (staff member)
• "Put them on all entrances" (hospital vicar)
• "Excellent idea" (visitor)
• "great idea, wish I’d invented it" (staff member)
• "amazing" (visitor)
• "I really like it –it’s like a toy" (staff member)
• "It’s good – does two jobs in one" (staff member)