Table 1.
Participants' reported hand hygiene knowledge and practices by discipline, August to October 2005
| Participants with correct responses |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | Response choices | Physicians (n = 9) | Nurses (n = 8) | Other∗ (n = 5) | Overall |
| In which situations are alcohol-based hand rubs recommended? | Before touching equipment in patients' room | 5 (56%) | 3 (38%) | 3 (60%) | 12 (55%) |
| Before inserting catheters | 6 (67%) | 3 (38%) | 1 (20%) | 11 (50%) | |
| After removing gloves | 4 (44%) | 7 (88%) | 3 (60%) | 15 (68%) | |
| Which statements are true about alcohol-based hand rubs? | They reduce bacterial count better than plain soap | 3 (33%) | 7 (88%) | 2 (40%) | 12 (55%) |
| More accessible | 7 (78%) | 8 (100%) | 3 (60%) | 18 (82%) | |
| Require less time than soap | 5 (56%) | 5 (63%) | 3 (60%) | 13 (59%) | |
| Rubs less irritating than soap | 5 (56%) | 3 (38%) | 3 (60%) | 12 (55%) | |
∗
Other includes nurse practitioner, paramedic, respiratory therapist, dialysis technician, and medical student.