Impact of environmental olfactory cues on hand hygiene behaviour in a simulated hospital environment: A randomized study

D. J. Birnbach; D. King; I. Vlaev; L. F. Rosen; P. D. Harvey

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2013.06.008

Impact of environmental olfactory cues on hand hygiene behaviour in a simulated hospital environment: A randomized study

D. J. Birnbach, D. King, I. Vlaev, L. F. Rosen, P. D. Harvey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a fresh scent on the rate of hand hygiene compliance (HHC) among novice healthcare providers. In all, 165 participants examined a standardized patient with one sample exposed to fresh scent (N=79) and the other exposed to the standard environment (N=86). Hand hygiene behaviours were tracked before patient contact using video surveillance. The standard environment group had an HHC rate of 51% whereas participants in the fresh scent group had a higher HHC rate of 80% (P<0.001). These data demonstrate that hand hygiene behaviour may be subconsciously influenced by cues in the environment.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	79-81
Number of pages	3
Journal	Journal of Hospital Infection
Volume	85
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2013.06.008
State	Published - Sep 2013

Keywords

Behavioural assessment
Hand hygiene
Patient safety
Priming
Scent
Simulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Microbiology (medical)
Infectious Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.jhin.2013.06.008

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abstract = "This study investigated the impact of a fresh scent on the rate of hand hygiene compliance (HHC) among novice healthcare providers. In all, 165 participants examined a standardized patient with one sample exposed to fresh scent (N=79) and the other exposed to the standard environment (N=86). Hand hygiene behaviours were tracked before patient contact using video surveillance. The standard environment group had an HHC rate of 51% whereas participants in the fresh scent group had a higher HHC rate of 80% (P<0.001). These data demonstrate that hand hygiene behaviour may be subconsciously influenced by cues in the environment.",

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AU - King, D.

AU - Vlaev, I.

AU - Rosen, L. F.

AU - Harvey, P. D.

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AB - This study investigated the impact of a fresh scent on the rate of hand hygiene compliance (HHC) among novice healthcare providers. In all, 165 participants examined a standardized patient with one sample exposed to fresh scent (N=79) and the other exposed to the standard environment (N=86). Hand hygiene behaviours were tracked before patient contact using video surveillance. The standard environment group had an HHC rate of 51% whereas participants in the fresh scent group had a higher HHC rate of 80% (P<0.001). These data demonstrate that hand hygiene behaviour may be subconsciously influenced by cues in the environment.

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KW - Patient safety

KW - Priming

KW - Scent

KW - Simulation

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Impact of environmental olfactory cues on hand hygiene behaviour in a simulated hospital environment: A randomized study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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