GPs can improve their hand washing habits

doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7238.869

BMJ 2000;320:869 ( 25 March )

Letters

GPs can improve their hand washing habits

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ The Handwashing Liaison Group states that hand washing habits among hospital staff could be improved.¹ This statementcan be extrapolated to include those working in primary care.From January to March 1999 a computer randomised sample of 230doctors registered with the Scientific Organisation of FlemishGeneral Practitioners was interviewed by telephone, and 200 tookpart. They were asked if they washed their hands after each contactwith a patient. A total of 126 of those asked washed their handsafter each consultation, but only 43 did so after each home visit,although they were confronted during consultation and home visitwith 45 and 85 patients with infectious disease respectively.Of those who did wash their hands after consultation, 79 usedwater and soap. Only 21 used a towel for single use. The tableshows the reasons for not washing hands.