Impact of an educational intervention on hand hygiene practice among nursing students, with a focus on hand drying efficacy.

Background: Hand hygiene and its significance for reducing the spread of infection is well evidenced and has been brought into sharp focus following the COVID-19 pandemic. Although a crucial clinical skill in ensuring safe healthcare, little is known regarding nursing students' effectiveness of hand hygiene practice.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on hand hygiene practice, designed by the research team for first year pre-registration nursing students.

Review of personal protection equipment used in practice.

Standard precautions offer a consistent approach to infection control that does not rely on knowledge or suspicion of infection, and contributes to staff and patient safety by reducing the risk of exposure to potentially infectious material. One of the cornerstones of standard precautions is the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated. However, evidence suggests that compliance with standard precautions including correct use of PPE is inadequate.