Effects of the implementation of a hand hygiene education program among ICU professionals: an interrupted time-series analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the effects that a hand hygiene education program has on the compliance of health professionals in an ICU.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with an interrupted time-series design, conducted over a 12-month period: the 5 months preceding the implementation of a hand hygiene education program (baseline period); the 2 months of the intensive (intervention) phase of the program; and the first 5 months thereafter (post-intervention phase). Hand hygiene compliance was monitored by one of the researchers, unbeknownst to the ICU team.