Patient Safety through Hand Hygiene Risk Management

Background: Patient safety is the responsibility of all participants in healthcare and health services. In clinical hospitals and other healthcare facilities, it is necessary to create conditions in which healthcare is delivered according to a model in which patient safety is the central priority, not only from a medical but also from a socio-economic perspective. Objective: This study aimed to identify differences in equipment between high- and low-risk clinics and to assess staff hand hygiene practices, including the most common indications and the frequency of antiseptic handwashing, by profession, profile, and clinic risk level. Materials and Methods: The study included 100 randomly selected participants from healthcare and non-healthcare professions, with 50 from low-risk clinics and 50 from high-risk clinics. The study was conducted anonymously. A modified WHO questionnaire, the Hand Hygiene Knowledge Questionnaire for Health-Care Workers, was used. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis. Results: The study partially confirmed the working hypothesis, with the first and second research statements showing statistically significant differences in clinic equipment and staff practices related to hand hygiene. The third statement, which found no statistically significant differences in the frequency of antiseptic handwashing, supports the null hypothesis. Conclusion: While knowledge of hand hygiene doesn’t always translate into proper practice, ongoing education for healthcare workers and promotion of hand hygiene significantly influence their attitudes and actions. Following established hand hygiene procedures and applying them carefully in daily practice can produce lasting results.