Handwashing in hospitals: How Quebec compares to other provinces

Quebec hospitals haveone of the lowest rates of compliance withhandwashingrules in thecountry, data compiled by CBC Montreal suggests.

The findings come after aninvestigative report by Radio-Canada'sEnquteshowedthat Quebec hospitals lag far behind government targets when it comes to handwashing.

Although the government says the ideal rate should be 80 per cent, only 42.5 per cent ofhealth workers wash their hands before seeing a patient, and 61.2 per cent wash after.

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Data for Quebec had to be obtained through an Access to Information request. Most otherprovinces publish their audit results on governmentwebsites.

Compare Quebec with provinces that have published handwashing audits below.

Quebec

Before seeing patient: 42.5 per cent
After seeing patient: 61.2 per cent

Ontario

Before seeing patient: 87.5 per cent
After seeing patient: 91.6 per cent

Data is from April 2014 - March 2015.

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BritishColumbia

83 per cent overall
Data is for the fourth quarter of 2014-15.

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Alberta

78.5 per cent overall
Data isfor the first quarter of 2015-16.

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Saskatchwan

74.1 per cent overall
Data is for June 2015 and for the ReginaQu'ApelleHealth Region only.

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Nova Scotia

Before seeing patient:73.7 per cent
After seeing patient: 87.7 per cent

Data is for the period of January-March 2015.

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PEI

73 per cent overall
Data is for2011.

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Manitoba

70 per cent overall
Data is for the first quarter of 2015-16 and for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority only.

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New Brunswick

Vitalit Health Network:48.5 per cent
Data is from April 2013 -March 2014.

Horizon Health Network: about 72 per cent
Data is for the fourth quarter of 2013-14.

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