The polysemy of hands hygiene in the hospital context: the users’ voice

Abstract

Aim: to analyze the meanings attributed by the people admitted to a hospital in southern Brazil to messages conveyed by posters in a campaign to promote hands hygiene. Method: qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study. Interviews were conducted with 10 patients. Data were submitted to thematic analysis based on the theoretical references of Cultural Studies. Results: the meanings assigned to the messages varied, which resulted in numerous interpretations. The users represented hand hygiene as an action that is a responsibility of the health professional to prevent the transmission of infections. Conclusion: the meanings assigned to the messages by the patients were different from the ones the campaign producers had expected, resulting on non-compatible answers to their objectives.

Keywords

• educação em saúde
• controle de infecções
• desinfecção das mãos
• hospitais
• pesquisa qualitativa