Assessment of hand hygiene practices among oral health professionals at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective practices for preventing transmission of healthcare-associated infections. However, compliance with guidelines on hand hygiene practices remains a major issue among healthcare workers. Few studies have emphasized dentists’ compliance with hand hygiene in oral health-related units. This study aimed to assess the hand hygiene practices among the different cadres of oral health professionals in a tertiary institution. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the dental clinic of a tertiary hospital. A convenient sampling method was used, and the data were collected using a nonparticipatory observational technique. The oral health professional’s compliance with the five moments of hand hygiene, according to the World Health Organization, was assessed. Appropriate use of personal protective equipment and other hand hygiene practices were also evaluated. Descriptive and inferential analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25, and the level of statistical significance was set at 5% ( P < 0.05). Results: Three hundred oral healthcare workers (HCWs) were observed. Only 19 (6.3%) HCWs washed their hands before gloving and patient contact. Most oral HCWs, 245 (81.7%), touched surfaces after gloving. There was a statistically significant difference in hand hygiene practices among the different cadres of oral HCWs. Twenty percent of consultants washed their hands before gloving, while 10.1% of registrars, 0.9% of house officers, and 2.6% of students washed their hands before gloving. None of the hygienists, dental nurses, and technologists washed their hands before gloving. After treatment of the patient and degloving, 62% of the oral HCWs washed their hands. Conclusion: There was a suboptimal adherence to the hand hygiene protocol among oral healthcare professionals. Good hand hygiene practices should, therefore, be closely monitored by the infection control team of the hospital to prevent cross-infections.