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Indian Journal of Community Medicine
By Kirti Udayai and Piyush Kumar.
Abstract Background: Clinical audits are vital for upholding healthcare quality and patient safety. Traditional audits in India often rely on paper-based methods, limiting efficiency, timeliness, and compliance monitoring. Digitization of audits offers real-time analytics, streamlined reporting, and improved staff engagement.
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This study evaluates the effect of digitizing the Hand Hygiene Audit in a multispecialty tertiary care hospital group to assess its impact on compliance and infection control.
A multicentre quasi-experimental pre–post study was conducted across four pilot hospital units in Bangalore, Kolkata, and Jaipur. Data were collected before and after implementation of a digital audit platform. Compliance was tracked using standardized audit templates, with results displayed on a centralized dashboard accessible to managers and quality teams.
Overall hand hygiene compliance increased significantly from 58.0% (174/300) before digitization to 86.0% (258/300) after implementation, representing an absolute improvement of 28 percentage points (RR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.33–1.65; P < 0.001). Similar statistically significant improvements were observed in intensive care units (52% to 82%; RR = 1.58; P < 0.001) and operation theatres (61% to 88%; RR = 1.45; P < 0.001). Audit frequency increased threefold, reporting turnaround time decreased from 15–30 days to <24 hours, audit coverage improved from 60% to 96% (RR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.36–1.89; P < 0.001), staff participation increased from 40% to 80% (RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.50–2.67; P < 0.001), and data recording errors decreased from 12% to 2% (RR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.07–0.39; P < 0.001), demonstrating significant improvements in audit efficiency, data quality, and accountability.
Digitization of the Hand Hygiene Audit enhanced compliance, efficiency, and transparency. Wider adoption of such digital tools can standardize infection control practices across healthcare systems.
Published in Indian Journal of Community Medicine. The abstract is shown as published and remains the work of its authors; read the full article at the source.
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