Study: Change agents do not improve hand hygiene long-term

An American Journal of Infection Control study found training 13 individuals as “agents of change” to improve hand hygiene rates on two hospital units did not significantly improve hand hygiene long-term. The researchers surveyed agents and unit health care workers before and after the intervention to measure perceptions of the electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems and the change agents’ impact. Researchers monitored hand hygiene compliance across the units and one control unit eight weeks before, five weeks during and eight weeks after the intervention. While 70% of agents believed they influenced behavior and 50% felt they changed attitudes, surveys showed minimal changes in attitudes and culture. Average hand hygiene rates increased by 6.8% and 5% in the intervention units, but post-study compliance rates were similar. (American Journal of Infection Control article, 3/7/25)