The effects of the personality characteristics and anxiety on hand washing compliance of critical care members

This study was conducted in Suleyman Demirel and Afyon Kocatepe University to search the effects of stress level and character differences of the staff in intensive care units on handwashing behaviour. STAI 1, STAI2 and `temperament character inventory? (TCI) questionnaires were realized for determining the effects of anxiety and individuality on hospital staff (doctors, nurses and health officials) handwashing behavior. filled by the volunteers after they were informed about the study but not by the person and time of the observation of the person?s handwashing behaviour.Average handwashing score was of doctors is 5.2±1.5 for doctors, 5.5±1.0 forof nurses is 5.5±1.0, 5.2±0.9 for personelsof health officials is 5.2±0.9.Stress scores were among three studied populations (doctors, nurses and personels). TCI scores revealed that doctors with high handwashing scores loved their work and were in peace with their surroundings. Scores also revealed that nurses with high handwashing scores liked to obey rules and that personels with high handwashing scores as much as they liked to obey rules and liked to be rewarded.Key Words:Anxiety, Behaviour, Hand washing, Personality