A critical review and discussion of research based evidence relating Essay

A critical review and discussion of research based evidence relating to hand hygiene in community nursing hand washing versus the use of alcohol based hand gel - Essay Example The use of an alcohol-based hand gels is the next best option to soap and water. In fact, it is also highly recommended by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2003). Isopropyl and ethyl alcohol is proven to be effective in fighting against bacteria, tuberculosis, viruses, and fungi (Kozier 2004). In relation to hand washing, this paper will focus on discussion and the comparison of different research approaches in order to come up with evidences regarding the importance of hand washing in a community area, the use of an alcohol-based hand gels as an alternative to hand washing, and some of the health benefits that we could get from a simple hand washing with the use of either an ordinary or anti-bacterial soap. The four (4) research studies that I have included in this paper all ended up with the evidence that a simple hand washing with either an ordinary or an anti-bacterial soap and the maintenance of short and clean nails can help us stay in good health and free from a long list of infectious diseases such as upper respiratory diseases like colds and flu, and a mortality causing diseases like diarrhoea. In my research, I have included the importance of hand washing. Every nurse should know the exact reason why hand washing is very important in our chosen career. In line with this, we must have to be knowledgeable of the proper way of hand washing and the use of the alcohol-based hand gels. For this reason, I also have included the guidelines on hand washing and the use of the alcohol-based hand gels. There are four (4) research studies in this paper. Two (2) are evidenced-based practice showing that hand washing can prevent and minimize infectious diseases like colds and flu and diarrhoea. The third study will show that the use of the alcohol-based hand gels will increase the rate of hand washing compliance due to the convenience that comes with from using it. The last study proves that long nails could