Proper glove use: a multi-centre before–after improvement project
15 affiliations
- 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- 2Microvida Laboratory for Microbiology and Immunology, ZorgSaam Ziekenhuis, Terneuzen, the Netherlands
- 3Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Resistance Care Network South-Western Netherlands, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- 4Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- 5Adrz, the Netherlands
- 6Albert Schweitzer ziekenhuis, the Netherlands
- 7Argos Zorggroep, the Netherlands
- 8Curamare, the Netherlands
- 9Erasmus MC, the Netherlands
- 10Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, the Netherlands
- 11Het Spectrum - Salios, the Netherlands
- 12Ikazia ziekenhuis, the Netherlands
- 13Rijndam Revalidatie, the Netherlands
- 14Zorgorganisatie de Blije Borgh, the Netherlands
- 15ZorgSaam Zorggroep, the Netherlands
Abstract
Introduction: In healthcare, excessive glove use increases the risk of spreading micro-organisms and amount of plastic waste. With no sustainable alternatives, reducing glove use is the primary mitigation strategy. The aim of the project was to understand healthcare workers’ (HCW) perspectives on glove use, to evaluate if a behaviour change was achieved through an intervention, and to measure the reduction in glove use.
Methods: A multi-centre before–after improvement project was conducted in the south-western region of the Netherlands. First, a regional policy on glove use was formulated. At baseline, a Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour (COM-B) questionnaire on glove use was distributed among HCW. The intervention comprised a toolbox for healthcare facilities and observations of glove use. Additionally, glove procurement statistics were gathered, and interviews about the perceived usefulness of the intervention were conducted.
Results: The questionnaire had 1111 participants. The COM-B theme Opportunity scored lowest, while Behaviour scored highest. At baseline, 1550 observations were performed by 15 healthcare facilities, postintervention 940 observations were performed by six healthcare facilities, showing a significant decrease in unnecessary glove use by HCW (42.3% vs 25.9%, P < 0.001). Glove procurement statistics showed a significant decrease in one healthcare facility (P < 0.001). The overall grade of the intervention given by HCW was a 7.8 out of 10.
Conclusion: This project highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve issues related to the opportunity to wear gloves correctly. While the percentage of unnecessary use was notably high, interventions chosen by HCW can reduce this significantly, with potentially a positive impact on patient care and the environment.
Related
- Standardising Pleural Management in Suspected Malignant Pleural Effusion Using a Structured Pre-Test Probability and RED Score-Guided Proforma: A Single-Centre Before-and-After Quality Improvement Project.
- Higher Intensity Quality Improvement Campaign Yields Greater Reduction in Medical Glove Use: The "Gloves Off!" Campaign.
- Standardising Emollient Prescribing in Critically Ill Patients: A Quality Improvement Project
- Bridging the Gap: A Quality Improvement Project Improving Communication Between Community-Based Inpatient and Outpatient Psychiatric Providers
- Quality improvement project to reduce the unnecessary use of urinary catheters in patients cared for by a community nursing team
BibTeX
@article{holt2026proper,
title = {{Proper glove use: a multi-centre before–after improvement project}},
author = {Anne F. Voor in ’t holt and Robbert G. Bentvelsen and Fleur Adriaanse and Sabrina K. Been and Vicki Erasmus and Juliëtte A. Severin and Jojanneke Dekkers and Jojanneke Dekkers and Tineke Heijerman and Yara Bamberg and Greet van der Tempel and Marianne van Groningen and Pia Gutierrez Zarate and Mieke Waltmans-den Breejen and Joy Kersten and Henriette Bakker and Bas de Jong and Wim van Vianen and Evelien van der Linden and Anja Bakker},
journal = {Infection Prevention in Practice},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100574},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100574},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Proper glove use: a multi-centre before–after improvement project
AU - Anne F. Voor in ’t holt
AU - Robbert G. Bentvelsen
AU - Fleur Adriaanse
AU - Sabrina K. Been
AU - Vicki Erasmus
AU - Juliëtte A. Severin
AU - Jojanneke Dekkers
AU - Jojanneke Dekkers
AU - Tineke Heijerman
AU - Yara Bamberg
AU - Greet van der Tempel
AU - Marianne van Groningen
AU - Pia Gutierrez Zarate
AU - Mieke Waltmans-den Breejen
AU - Joy Kersten
AU - Henriette Bakker
AU - Bas de Jong
AU - Wim van Vianen
AU - Evelien van der Linden
AU - Anja Bakker
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/07
JO - Infection Prevention in Practice
DO - 10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100574
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100574
AB - Introduction: In healthcare, excessive glove use increases the risk of spreading micro-organisms and amount of plastic waste. With no sustainable alternatives, reducing glove use is the primary mitigation strategy. The aim of the project was to understand healthcare workers’ (HCW) perspectives on glove use, to evaluate if a behaviour change was achieved through an intervention, and to measure the reduction in glove use. Methods: A multi-centre before–after improvement project was conducted in the south-western region of the Netherlands. First, a regional policy on glove use was formulated. At baseline, a Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour (COM-B) questionnaire on glove use was distributed among HCW. The intervention comprised a toolbox for healthcare facilities and observations of glove use. Additionally, glove procurement statistics were gathered, and interviews about the perceived usefulness of the intervention were conducted. Results: The questionnaire had 1111 participants. The COM-B theme Opportunity scored lowest, while Behaviour scored highest. At baseline, 1550 observations were performed by 15 healthcare facilities, postintervention 940 observations were performed by six healthcare facilities, showing a significant decrease in unnecessary glove use by HCW (42.3% vs 25.9%, P < 0.001). Glove procurement statistics showed a significant decrease in one healthcare facility (P < 0.001). The overall grade of the intervention given by HCW was a 7.8 out of 10. Conclusion: This project highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve issues related to the opportunity to wear gloves correctly. While the percentage of unnecessary use was notably high, interventions chosen by HCW can reduce this significantly, with potentially a positive impact on patient care and the environment.
SN - 2590-0889
ER -