Proper Glove Use: a Multicentre Before-after Improvement Project

Introduction In healthcare, excessive glove use increases the risk of spreading microorganisms and amount of plastic waste. With no sustainable alternatives, reducing glove use is the primary mitigation strategy. This project aimed to understand healthcare workers’ (HCW) perspectives on glove use, to evaluate if a behaviour change was achieved through an intervention, and measure the reduction in glove use. Methods A multicentre before-after improvement project was conducted in the south-western region of the Netherlands. First, a regional policy on glove use was formulated. At baseline, a COM-B questionnaire on glove use was distributed among HCW. The intervention comprised a toolbox for healthcare facilities and observations of glove use. Additionally, glove procurement statistics were gathered, and interviews about the perceived usefulness of the intervention were conducted. Results The questionnaire had 1,111 participants. The COM-B theme Opportunity scored lowest, while Behaviour scored highest. At baseline, 1,550 observations were performed by 15 healthcare facilities, post-intervention 940 observations were performed by 6 healthcare facilities, showing a significant decrease in unnecessary glove use by HCW (42.3% vs. 25.9%, P<0.001). Glove procurement statistics showed a significant decrease in one healthcare facility (P<0.001). The overall grade of the intervention given by HCW was a 7.8 out of 10. Conclusion This project highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve issues related to the opportunity to correctly wear gloves. While the percentage of unnecessary use was notably high, interventions chosen by HCW can reduce this significantly, with potentially a positive impact on patient care and the environment.