
More than 1,200 HCPs, specifically nurses and physicians, across five Swiss hospitals participated in a self-administered survey. It covered past speaking-up behaviors, their evaluations of the speaking-up climate in the workplace and their likelihood to speak up about poor hand hygiene practice described in a scenario.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
- While nearly 86% of respondents reported at least one episode of speaking up due to a safety concern over the previous four weeks, about 61 of respondents also reported at least one episode of withholding their voice during that period despite having safety concerns.
- 56% of respondents stated they would speak up to a colleague if they witnessed the poor hand hygiene practice described in the scenario, with 43% indicating they would feel uncomfortable with speaking up.
- Nurses expressed more discomfort with speaking up and reported a slightly lower likelihood of speaking up than physicians.
- Hierarchy was strongly associated with speaking-up behavior.
- Higher risk of patient harm and higher frequencies of past speaking-up behaviors were associated positively with likelihood to speak up. Higher frequencies of past withholding voice and higher levels of resignation were associated with a lower likelihood to speak up.
For more information on hand hygiene and proper practices, access these past Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS) blogs:
- Joint Commission Now Citing Any Hand Hygiene Failure
- Study: Proper Hand Hygiene Practices Significantly Reduce Infections in Nursing Homes
- Study Reveals Infection Control Challenges in Long-Term Care Facilities