The World Health Organization (WHO) defined how many moments for hand hygiene?

Appeared in: NVS- 2025

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the 'My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene' model to guide healthcare workers on the critical times to perform hand hygiene.
This evidence-based framework is designed to prevent the transmission of microorganisms during patient care, thereby reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
The five moments cover all key points of potential pathogen transmission, from contact with the patient and their environment to invasive procedures.

Option B: The number 6 is incorrect. While there are 6 or 7 steps in the hand washing technique, the WHO defines 5 critical moments for when to perform hand hygiene.
Option C: The number 3 is incorrect. This does not align with the WHO's comprehensive model for infection prevention.
Option D: The number 4 is incorrect. While it is one of the moments ('After touching a patient'), it is not the total number of moments defined by the WHO.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO's 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Adherence to the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent the spread of pathogens and reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Nurses play a crucial role in not only practicing but also promoting hand hygiene among colleagues, patients, and visitors.
In the Indian healthcare context, where the burden of infectious diseases can be high, strict adherence to these moments is critical for patient safety and controlling outbreaks.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'World Health Organization (WHO)' and 'moments for hand hygiene'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question. It tests your knowledge of a fundamental, internationally recognized guideline in infection control.
Access your memory of infection prevention protocols. The '5 Moments' is a core concept taught in nursing education.
Evaluate the options. The number '5' should stand out as being directly associated with the well-known WHO framework.
Eliminate the other numbers (6, 3, 4) as they do not correspond to this specific, widely taught guideline.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Vital Signs p. 36-38

Practise the full NVS- 2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.