Theory-driven approach to hand hygiene promotion intervention in hospitals: a case of theory of planned behaviour.

This article focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to improve hand hygiene compliance among hospital nursing staff. The study involved 194 nursing personnel randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, with data collected via a TPB-based questionnaire aligned with the World Health Organization's five moments for hand hygiene. Results demonstrated significant improvements in subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, behavioural intention, and hand hygiene behaviour in the intervention group, particularly at the moments of 'before touching a patient,' 'after body fluid exposure,' and 'after touching a patient.' The study suggests that integrating TPB with other behaviour change theories, such as Social Cognitive Theory, may enhance the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing hand hygiene adherence in clinical settings.