Mrs. Liz Orr1, Ms Lucille Dosvaldo1, Ms Sara Peterson1, Ms Sharon McIlduff1, Associate Professor Caroline Marshall1,2, Ms Vivian Leung1
1Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia, 2University Of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Biography:
Liz Orr is an Infection Prevention Clinical Nurse Consultant and the Manager of Infection Prevention and Surveillance Service at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. She has led her team through the Melbourne Health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has completed studies in Leadership and Master of Public Health.
Abstract:
Clear problem/issue identified
Non-sterile gloves are the most frequently used single-use plastic in hospitals and a major contributor to healthcare waste. Despite guidelines, glove overuse remains common, often driven by a misconception that gloves offer superior protection compared to hand hygiene. The Gloves Off! initiative was launched to reduce unnecessary glove use and promote appropriate use through targeted education.
What was done to rectify the problem/issue
A pre-intervention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey and glove use audit was conducted across four pilot wards to identify knowledge gaps and inform a tailored, multimodal education program. From March to May 2025, interventions included engaging clinical champions, staff education sessions, immediate feedback, posters, stickers, promotional t-shirts, meetings, and a glove-awareness video competition.
Results
A total of 503 healthcare workers completed the pre-intervention KAP survey (July 2024–February 2025). While staff demonstrated general awareness of glove use principles, 27% incorrectly believed gloves offer greater protection against contamination with infectious agents than hand hygiene. These findings informed the educational strategy. Appropriate glove use improved from 37% pre-intervention to 66% during the intervention. Glove consumption pre- and post-intervention will be analysed.
Conclusions and lessons learned
Knowledge gaps and persistent misconceptions contribute to inappropriate glove use. Identifying and addressing these through targeted, multimodal education is essential to drive practice change. Sustained efforts and ongoing engagement with clinical champions are critical to improving glove use appropriateness and reducing unnecessary plastic waste in healthcare.