VR training system may boost hand hygiene

A virtual reality education system improved hand hygiene practices, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control. Researchers conducted the two-week, randomized controlled study of 22 participants from November 2023 to January 2024. A fully immersive VR system, which contained a head-mounted display and sensing gloves, was used to remind participants to use hand-rubbing alcohol for environmental cleaning, gauze exchange and urine collection. Researchers monitored how often participants used hand-rubbing alcohol and then randomly assigned them to receive VR training or a video lecture. Hand hygiene practices did not differ significantly between the two groups before the intervention. However, after the intervention, participants assigned to the VR group significantly increased their use of hand-rubbing alcohol. (American Journal of Infection Control study, 8/8/24)