Hand hygiene serves as a foremost preventative measure in healthcare facilities against infection spread. It is a simple yet highly significant procedure. However, compliance among healthcare professionals often falls short of optimal levels.
In order to develop intervention measures, understanding the challenges in maintaining these hygiene practices is crucial. A systematic review of prevalent literature aims to delve into these barriers, specifically seeking to address the longevity of these barriers despite efforts to rectify them. The methodology adopted for this systematic review aligned with the Joanna Briggs Institute’s review approach for qualitative studies, focusing on works published between 2010 and 2024.
The review encapsulated 28 studies conducted worldwide, uncovering four principal themes of barriers encapsulating numerous sub-themes. Behavioural and organisational constraints, two major themes, were frequently highlighted, contrasting with physical barriers and societal/interpersonal barriers. These barriers interrelate in complex manifestations, requiring multi-faceted remedies involving relevant stakeholders.
Despite the simplicity of practicing hand hygiene, adherence rates among healthcare professionals remain insufficient. Improved adherence could reduce pathogen transmission by up to 50% in healthcare settings. Therefore, a more nuanced understanding of the barriers to hand hygiene could significantly benefit infection control.
This systematic review was conducted with existing evidence adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for qualitative studies. The purpose of the review was to provide a clearer understanding of the barriers to hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. The review encompassed studies from various global regions, painting a complete picture of the problem in different healthcare contexts.
The findings highlighted that the barriers to optimal hand hygiene are multi-layered and interrelated, emphasising that remedial measures should cater to various aspects of this complex issue. Therefore, addressing these barriers needs involvement from multiple stakeholders including healthcare workers themselves, organisational structures and procedures, and societal norms and attitudes.
Source: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-025-10924-4