2023 Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 44-52
Objectives: To evaluate the efficiency of hand hygiene in patients with rheumatoid arthritis（RA）, we assessed the compliance and quality of the handwashing technique in RA patients.
Patients and Methods: From July to November 2021, 55 RA patients（mean age, 69.7 years; male, n=8; female, n=47）hospitalized at our medical institution were subjected to a questionnaire survey on handwashing and a handwashing check. We conducted a survey on unwashed parts of the hands to investigate the handwashing situation and the relationship between patient background factors and unwashed hands.
Results: The most unwashed parts of the hands were the interdigital areas on the dorsal side of both hands（87%）, followed by the areas around the nail plates（77%）. Factors significantly related to unwashed hands were the presence or absence of family members living together and the number of hand deformities. There were no significant associations between unwashed hands scores and age, disease duration, use of biologics, presence or absence of guidance, grip strength of both hands, hand stiffness, Health Assessment Questionnaire（HAQ）score, or the assessment of shoulder, elbow, and hand pain using a visual analogue scale.
Conclusion: It is more important than ever to implement proper handwashing instruction in RA patients with hand deformities who were living alone.
