Differences in observed and self-reported compliance with the 5 moments for hand hygiene as a function of healthcare workers’ empathy

Hand hygiene at critical time-points (as established by the WHO model 'Five moments for hand hygiene') remains the leading measure for minimising the risk of healthcare-associated infections. While many interventions have been tested to improve hand hygiene compliance (HHC) of healthcare workers (HCWs), little is known about the relation between HHC and HCW empathy.The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between moment-specific HHC rates and HCWs' empathy, at both individual and ward levels.HHC data was collected via observation and self-report, staffs' empathy levels were measured using an established questionnaire. The survey was conducted on 38 wards of three tertiary-care hospitals in Germany. Observation data was obtained via in-house observations which were conducted up to eight months before or after the survey.Evidence for the expected correlation between HCW empathy and moment-specific HHC was found for both observed HHC (Moment 1: r = .483, p = .031; Moment 2: r = 588, p = .006) and self-reported HHC (Moment 1: r = .093, p = .092; Moment 2: r = .145, p = .008). In analyses of variance the critical interaction effect between empathy (i.e., lower vs. higher empathy) and designated time-point of hand hygiene (i.e., before vs. after reference task) was also significant.HCWs' empathy should be considered as an important factor in explaining differences between moment-specific HHC rates. In consequence, empathy comes into focus not only as a crucial factor for high-quality patient care, but as an important contributor to improving HHC, too.