The Hand Hygiene Training Gap and Innovative Ways To Train Healthcare Professionals
Originally published on Tork News Center
PHILADELPHIA, PA., May 20, 2024 /3BL/ – Tork, an Essity brand, was proud to once again recognize and participate in World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5th, an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally. Tork, the world’s number one professional hygiene brand1, is supporting World Hand Hygiene Day through its hygiene product and training solutions for healthcare, as well as its recent commitment to advancing hygiene inclusivity in public restrooms – including hand hygiene inclusivity – by ensuring all individuals are able to pursue proper hygiene in these settings.
Safe care starts with hand hygiene
Healthcare professionals are exposed to pathogens frequently throughout the day – whether through close contact with patients or interaction with high touch surfaces such as doorknobs, bedrails, or patient bathrooms. While the importance of hand hygiene is widely understood among healthcare providers, following hand hygiene best practices can be challenging and there is a growing need to empower effective implementation of sustainable, accessible and scalable hygiene procedures.
Healthcare professionals are looking for hand hygiene knowledge and training opportunities. Tork research found that about 80% of professionals have expressed a desire to improve their hand hygiene at work. Knowledge is power, and healthcare professionals need engaging learning experiences and more interactive education opportunities to bridge the knowledge gap and maintain hand hygiene. The best way to help improve hand hygiene is by consistent, hands-on training.
However, in a fast-paced, demanding environment, it can be challenging to sustain hand hygiene adherence. Studies show that some healthcare providers practice proper hand hygiene less than half of the recommended time, which might include sanitizing hands in average 100-150 times during a 12-hour shift, depending on the patient volume and intensity of care2.
This is where Tork can help – with Tork Clean Hands training and Tork hand sanitizing systems. Tork Virtual Reality (VR) Clean Hands Training and Education is a free and interactive exercise specifically designed to make hand hygiene training more engaging than ever before. VR is not only engaging but highly effective in helping drive behavioral changes and accelerate deeper learning. According to research, we only remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear and 30% of what we see. However, when doing or simulating an action like one does as a part of VR, we remember as much as 90%3.
The Tork interactive and immersive trainings help healthcare professionals effectively implement hygiene practices and improve adherence across the WHO’s 5 moments of hand hygiene. This is a key component to bridging the knowledge gap and driving sustainable hand hygiene and patient safety.
Dr. Claire Kilpatrick, Director, KSHealthcare Consulting said: “Sharing hand hygiene knowledge is important because hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to keep people safe from infection, help people understand when and how to perform hand hygiene, and achieve public health targets in a cost-effective way. When the 65 million healthcare workers around the globe train and act on hand hygiene, they help save lives – yours, a loved one’s and those most vulnerable in society.”
For more information:
• Tork Healthcare Trainings -- www.torkusa.com/hygiene/hygiene-training-and-education/all-courses/healthcare
• Tork Clean Hands Training for Care Homes – www.torkusa.com/hygiene/hygiene-training-and-education/all-courses/healthcare/clean-hands-training-care-homes/
• World Hand Hygiene Day 2024 (who.int) – www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day
For additional information please contact: FHTork@fleishman.com
1*Based on 2023 global sales of Tork branded products & services for professional use.
2Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, 2020-02-25 (https://www.cdc.gov/patientsafety/features/clean-hands-count.html#:~:text=Hand%20hygiene%20is%20a%20great,patients%20on%20any%20given%20day.)
3The Cone of Learning, 2005 (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-cone-of-learning-Krivickas-2005_fig1_281191978)
About Tork
The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissues, soap, napkins and wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they're always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity and a committed partner to customers in more than 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit Torkusa.com.
About Essity
Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. We are dedicated to improving well-being through our products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as Actimove, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 48,000 employees. Net sales in 2022 amounted to approximately SEK 156bn (EUR 15bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable and circular society. More information at www.essity.com.
