Authors response: hand washing is about respect for patients

To the editor, Cohen1 provides a thoughtful and heartfelt clinical anecdote that complements our review of the shortfalls around hand washing among physicians.2 We agree that hand washing shows care and diligence in patient treatment. It also conveys an image of being calm rather than rushed, humble rather than self-important and wanting contact rather than distance. Unfortunately, the metaphor of just-washed warm-hands may no longer apply to modern hand sanitisers that chill the skin from evaporation. We commend Cohen for his good intentions and yet a fundamental point in behavioural research is that intentions, no matter how emotionally poignant, can fail to translate into action. In a classic study, seminary students were recruited to deliver a sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan.3 By random assignment, half were told they were easily ahead of schedule whereas the others were informed they were...
Source: BMJ Quality and Safety - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research