Hand washing is all about respect for patients

The paper by Redelmeier and Shafir1 resonated strongly with me because I have always believed that there are important factors that motivate some physicians to wash their hands while others behave differently. I agree completely that this is a more complex issue than has been previously noted. I always wash my hands in front of the patients and have done so for over 40 years. This has very little to do with the risks of healthcare-associated infections and much more to do with respect for the patients and a commitment to patient-centred care. I was a paediatric resident at the Boston Children's Hospital in the mid-1970's and as nonchalant about hand washing as everyone else. Fortunately, I had a wonderful mentor whose example changed me. Professor Charles A Janeway was a renaissance figure in international paediatrics and an excellent teacher. Though in the twilight of his career, Professor Janeway...
Source: BMJ Quality and Safety - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research