How data-driven feedback improved hospital staff hygiene by up to 54%
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a first-hand look into the importance of hand-washing. This is especially true for front-line healthcare workers, who are at constant risk of exposure to bacteria and viruses.
Unfortunately, healthcare workers can forget about the importance of hand-washing and skip this vital step. This leaves them and their patients vulnerable to infections. While many methods have been tried to ensure that hospital staff comply with these health and safety measures, most have failed.
From February 2018 to April 2019, Danish university hospitals explored whether they could change this behavior by nudging healthcare workers to wash their hands using sensory technology and digital progress updates. These methods proved effective: the gentle change in messaging and data driven messaging increased hygiene compliance by 54%.
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Sources
Iverson, A. M., Stangerup, M., From-Hansen, M., Hansen, R., Paladin Sode, L., Kostadinov,K, Hansen, M. B., Calum, H., Ellermann-Erikson, S. & Dahl Knudsen, J. (2021).Light-guided nudging and data-driven performance feedback improve handhygiene compliance among nurses and doctors.American Journal of InfectionControl, Vol. 49, No. 6, 733-739.
