El conocimiento sobre higiene de manos en enfermería de hospital público

Abstract

The study conducted at a public hospital in El Oro evaluated the level of knowledge among nursing staff regarding hand hygiene and its relationship with sociodemographic and workrelated factors. Hand hygiene is an essential measure to prevent nosocomial infections; however, its adherence faces multiple barriers such as work overload, lack of time, and skin irritation. Although 57.6% of the evaluated staff demonstrated a medium level of knowledge, only 13.6% reached a high level, highlighting the need to strengthen continuous training.

This was a non-experimental, descriptive, and cross-sectional study in which surveys were applied to 59 nurses. It was found that the group with 6 to 10 years of work experience showed the highest levels of knowledge. The most commonly used technique was clinical handwashing (57.6%), and only a minority used alcohol-based hand hygiene. Handwashing frequency was adequate for 57.6% of the participants, while 22% did it occasionally.

The most frequently identified barriers were work overload (81.4%) and lack of time (79.7%). The study concludes that although there is awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, effective practice is limited by organizational factors. It is recommended to implement continuous training programs, improve time management, ensure the constant availability of necessary supplies, and promote a culture of safety. The study underscores the need to reinforce institutional strategies to strengthen this critical practice for safe patient care.