Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial of a Hand Hygiene Intervention Involving Pocket-Sized Containers of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub for the Control of Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wing Kin Yeung ◽  
Wai San Wilson Tam ◽  
Tze Wai Wong

Objective.To investigate the effectiveness of a multifaceted hand hygiene program involving the use of pocket-sized containers of antiseptic gel in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) with elderly residents.Methods.In this clustered randomized controlled trial, Hong Kong LTCFs for elderly persons were recruited via snowball sampling. Staff hand hygiene adherence was directly observed, and residents' infections necessitating hospitalization were recorded. After a 3-month preintervention period, LTCFs were randomized to receive pocket-sized containers of alcohol-based gel, reminder materials, and education for all HCWs (treatment group) or to receive basic life support education and workshops for all healthcare workers (HCWs) (control group). A 2-week intervention period (April 1-15, 2007) was followed by 7 months of postintervention observations.Results.In the 3 treatment LTCFs, adherence to hand rubbing increased from 5 (1.5%) of 333 to 233 (15.9%) of 1,465 hand hygiene opportunities (P = .001) and total hand hygiene adherence increased from 86 (25.8%) of 333 to 488 (33.3%) of 1,465 opportunities (P = .01) after intervention; the 3 control LTCFs showed no significant change. In the treatment group, the incidence of serious infections decreased from 31 cases in 21,862 resident-days (1.42 cases per 1,000 resident-days) to 33 cases in 50,441 resident-days (0.65 cases per 1,000 resident-days) (P = .002), whereas in the control group, it increased from 16 cases in 32,726 resident-days (0.49 cases per 1,000 resident-days) to 85 cases in 81,177 resident-days (1.05 cases per 1,000 resident-days) (P = .004). In the treatment group, the incidence of pneumonia decreased from 0.91 to 0.28 cases per 1,000 resident-days (P = .001) and the death rate due to infection decreased from 0.37 to 0.10 deaths per 1,000 resident-days (P = .01); the control group revealed no significant change.Conclusions.A hand hygiene program involving the use of pocket-sized containers of antiseptic gel and education could effectively increase adherence to hand rubbing and reduce the incidence of serious infections in LTCFs with elderly residents.

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 761-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-lin Ho ◽  
Wing-hong Seto ◽  
Lai-chin Wong ◽  
Tin-yau Wong

Objective.To determine the effectiveness of World Health Organization (WHO) multimodal strategy in promoting hand hygiene (HH) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).Design.Cluster-randomized controlled trial.Setting.Eighteen homes for the elderly in Hong Kong were randomly allocated to 2 intervention arms and a control arm. Direct observation of HH practice was conducted by trained nurses. Either handrubbing with alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) or handwashing with liquid soap and water was counted as a compliant action. Disease notification data during 2007–2010 were used to calculate incidence rate ratio (IRR).Participants.Managers and HCWs of the participating homes.Interventions.The WHO multimodal strategy was employed. All intervention homes were supplied with ABHR (WHO formulation I), ABHR racks, pull reels, HH posters and reminders, a health talk, video clips, training materials, and performance feedback. The only difference was that intervention arms 1 and 2 were provided with slightly powdered and powderless gloves, respectively.Results.A total of 11,669 HH opportunities were observed. HH compliance increased from 27.0% to 60.6% and from 22.2% to 48.6% in intervention arms 1 and 2, respectively. Both intervention arms showed increased HH compliance after intervention compared to controls, at 21.6% compliance (both P < .001). Provision of slightly powdered versus powderless gloves did not have any significant impact on ABHR usage. Respiratory outbreaks (IRR, 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01–0.93; P = .04) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections requiring hospital admission (IRR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.38–0.97; P = .04) were reduced after intervention.Conclusions.A promotion program applying the WHO multimodal strategy was effective in improving HH among HCWs in LTCFs.


1995 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Turner Parker ◽  
Nancy Leggett-Frazier ◽  
Pauline A. Vincent ◽  
Melvin S. Swanson

Nursing staffs from two long-term care facilities attended a multisession educational program about the care of residents with diabetes (treatment group). A control group consisted of the nursing staffs from two other similar facilities who did not participate in the educational program. Both groups were given a knowledge pretest and posttest. A chart review also was conducted following the educational intervention to determine any changes in the diabetes care provided by the treatment group. Following the educational program, the treatment group had a significant increase in their mean score on the knowledge test compared with the control group. However, a. review of the residents' charts revealed no significant increases in specific behaviors related to diabetes care. The findings suggest that, in addition to educational programs, more focused training concerning diabetes care is needed to improve the care of residents with diabetes in long-term care facilities. Implications for diabetes educators are discussed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Hsun Huang ◽  
Jui-Shan Lin ◽  
Tsai-Chung Li ◽  
Shih-Chang Lee ◽  
Hsiu Po Wang ◽  
...  

Many institutionalized patients and their healthcare providers are dissatisfied with current laxative therapy. This study compared therapeutic efficacy, safety, and laxative cost of an herbal formula (CCH1) and lactulose for long stay patients with constipation. In this double-blind, double-dummy, and placebo-controlled trial, we randomized 93 residents with chronic constipation from two long-term care facilities in Taiwan to receive either CCH1 with lactulose placebo or CCH1 placebo with lactulose for 8 weeks, then followed up for 4 weeks without study medication. Both treatments were effective and well tolerated for patients, but CCH1 produced more spontaneous bowel movements, less rectal treatments, less amount of rescue laxative, and lower laxative cost than lactulose during treatment. No significant differences were found in stool consistency, stool amount, global assessment, and safety concerns. In conclusion, our results suggest that CCH1 may have better efficacy and could be used as an alternative option to lactulose in the treatment of constipation in long-term care.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0245646
Author(s):  
Yoshihiko Baba ◽  
Chika Ooyama ◽  
Yasushi Tazawa ◽  
Masahiro Kohzuki

Objectives We developed the Adachi Rehabilitation Programme (ARP), a community rehabilitation program. Under the supervision of professional caregivers, older adults cleaned and planted flowers in the park and they walked and shopped in the community. We examined the effects of ARP on individuals receiving small-group multifunctional at-home care at community facilities. Methods This was a multi-centre controlled trial at thirteen small multifunctional at-home care facilities in Adachi, Tokyo. The primary outcomes of the study were daily step counts and timed up & go (TUG). Secondary outcomes included gait speed, step length, Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living, Functional Independence Measure, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and EuroQOL 5 Dimension. Results Ninety-six individuals at thirteen small multifunctional at-home care facilities were recruited for participation in December 2017. They were allocated to intervention (38) and control (40) groups. The average daily step count of the control group decreased from 852 to 727, but it increased by approximately 650 steps, from 990 to 1635, for the intervention group. Average TUG decreased from 16.1 s to 14.0 s and MMSE score increased from 15.9 to 16.3 for the intervention group, but a significant interaction was not found. On non-intervention home days, the daily step counts of the intervention group increased significantly from 908 steps to 1485 steps, while those of the control group decreased from 865 steps to 722 steps. Conclusions ARP may have effectively increased the physical activity of older adults under long-term care by increasing motivation and changing behaviour.


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