Self-reported practices of hand hygiene among the trainees of a teaching hospital in a resource limited country.

OBJECTIVE To determine the compliance of hand hygiene among the trainee physicians of a tertiary care teaching hospital; and to identify physicians' opinion regarding various obstacles in adhering to the hand hygiene principles. METHODS Cross-sectional survey was conducted among the Interns (House Officers) and Post Graduate trainee physicians of a tertiary care teaching hospital in a resource limited country. Subjects were consented and selected through non probability convenient sampling. A self-administered questionnaire, based on the hand hygiene guidelines laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used. RESULTS A total of 211 questionnaires were completed. Only 4.7% of the physicians reported to decontaminate their hands before having direct contact with their patients. Only 17% claimed to be aware of the WHO recommendations on hand hygiene. Majority of subjects considered "lack of sinks, soap, water and disposable towel" as a major barrier towards hand hygiene adherence. Overall compliance of hand hygiene was found to be 38.8% but it widely varied as a function of patient care activity. CONCLUSION Hand hygiene practices among trainee physicians were not in line with WHO recommendations. To make a difference, interventions taken to improve awareness alone, won't be sufficient; they have to be supported with improving facilities for hand hygiene.