Positive deviance: a new strategy for improving hand hygiene compliance.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a positive deviance strategy for the improvement of hand hygiene compliance in 2 adult step-down units.

Design: A 9-month, controlled trial comparing the effect of positive deviance on compliance with hand hygiene.

Setting: Two 20-bed step-down units at a tertiary care private hospital.

Controlled trial measuring the effect of a feedback intervention on hand hygiene compliance in a step-down unit.

Objective: To evaluate hand hygiene compliance in 2 adult step-down units (SDUs).

Design: A 6-month (from March to September 2007), controlled trial comparing 2 SDUs, one with a feedback intervention program (ie, the intervention unit) and one without (ie, the control unit).

Setting: Two 20-bed SDUs at a tertiary care private hospital.

Applying value analysis and fuzzy logic to select areas for installing waste fills.

This article discusses a methodology for assessing and ranking a predefined universe of objects to assist in the selection of suitable areas for the construction of sanitary landfills. The methodology is, in principle, for universal application. Its development was initially based on the 'Value Analysis' methodology and then on the 'Fuzzy Eigenvector Method', or 'Fuzzy Logic' as it is sometimes referred to.