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Running Head: EFFIC.

OF HAND DRYING 1







Efficacy of Hand Drying
Sydonie J Stock
Ferris State University

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Efficacy of Hand Drying
Considering safety and quality of care in health care settings, hand washing is one of the
most important. Part of proper hand washing is proper hand drying. If you dont dry your hands
correctly, all the work from washing them is ruined.
Importance of Hand Drying
In order to determine the most beneficial method of drying hands, multiple studies had to
be reviewed. In the twelve studies, the factors included in hygienic efficacy were the drying
speed, how dry the hands were after, the ability to remove bacteria from hands, and the reduction
of contaminating other surfaces or people (Huang). It was determined that using paper towels
were the best method to completely dry hands, to remove the most bacteria still remaining on the
hands, and to reduce the contamination of the surrounding surfaces (Huang).
Drying is Part of Washing
The twelve studies compared different methods of hand drying. One study examined
using cloth towels, and most compared paper towels to hot air dryers or jet air dryers (Huang).
Drying speed. In each study, it was found the fastest way to dry hands was to use either
cloth or paper towels (Huang). The second was jet air dryers, leaving hot air dryers the slowest
(Huang).
Bacteria removal. Various studies had conflicting results when it comes to removing
bacteria from the hands. Most of the studies agreed that using paper towels removed the most
bacteria. The jet air dryers also reduce the amount of bacteria, but several studies found that
bacteria increased after using the hot air dryer (Huang). Some studies also measured the
difference in rubbing hands under the hot air dryer verses keeping them still. It was determined
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that keeping the hands still decreased the amount of bacteria while rubbing hands increased the
bacteria (Huang).
Environmental contamination. Another factor to take into account when drying hands
is the amount of cross-contamination from the surrounding environment (Huang). Through
reviewing the studies it was determined that the jet air dryer was the worst for cross-
contaminating from the surrounding environment. The hot air dryer and paper towels allowed for
the least cross-contamination (Huang).
Nursing Theory
The nursing theory that is in accordance with the hand drying studies is the Adaptation
Theory. This theory defines adaptation as the adjustment of living matter to other living things
and to environmental conditions (Taylor). This is true when considering different methods of
hand drying. One may have to change their normal habits, or adapt, in order to ensure quality
care.
Conclusion
Based on the twelve studies reviewed, the fastest and cleanest way to dry hands is using
paper towels. Though, if only hot air dryers or jet air dryers are available, there are ways to
decrease the bacteria on the hands (Huang). Though the jet air dryers decrease the amount of
bacteria on the hands, they have the highest cross-contamination of all the drying methods
(Huang). Hot air dryers decrease the cross-contamination, but take the longest to dry and the
bacteria on the hands increases if they are rubbed together while drying (Huang). Paper towels
dry the fastest and have the least cross-contamination and consistently reduce the amount of
bacteria on the hands (Huang). Thus it was determined that the best drying method for health
care and food service is the paper towels (Huang).
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References
Huang, C., Ma, W., & Stack, S. (2012). The hygienic efficacy of different hand-drying methods:
a review of the evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 87(8), 791-798. Retrieved October 6,
2012 from CINAHL database.
Taylor, C., Lillis, C., LeMone, P., & Lynn, P. (2011). Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and
Science of Nursing Care (7th ed). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer/ Lippincott,
Williams, & Wilkins.

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