Infrared technology could be a key strategy in improving healthcare workers’ hand-hygiene compliance, according to the results of a trial in a UK-based general medical unit.
The study of the effectiveness of the IRISYS Intelligent Handwash Monitoring System, which was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), found that overall average compliance improved 57%. The technology helps to monitor healthcare workers’ behaviour in relation to the World Health Organization’s Five Moments for Hand Hygiene and is designed to eliminate the potential for bias, assumption and error. It uses unobtrusive smart-sensor technology to establish baseline compliance; monitor workers’ behaviour in response to intervention-strategy implementation; and report outcomes.
