Impact of Hand Rub Placement on Patient Trust and Disease Stigma

Conditions

• Noncommunicable Disease
• Psoriasis

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Distant placement of hand rub — OTHER
  The alcohol-based hand rub dispenser is relocated to a distant position in the consultation room, greater than 1 meter (approx. 3.3 feet) away from the physician (e.g., on a sink). This environmental modification is designed to prompt physicians to perform hand hygiene after the patient departs ("invisible hand hygiene"), aiming to improve patient trust and reduce perceived disease-related stigma.
• Conventional placement of hand rub — OTHER
  The alcohol-based hand rub dispenser is placed in the conventional, standard position in the consultation room, which is less than or equal to 0.3 meters (approx. 1 foot) away from the physician (e.g., to the left of the computer). This facilitates standard hand hygiene immediately after patient contact ("visible hand hygiene").

Study Details

This study aims to investigate how the physical placement of hand sanitizer in consultation rooms affects patient trust and feelings of disease stigma. While hand hygiene is an essential infection control measure in healthcare, performing it immediately in front of patients with visible, non-communicable conditions (such as psoriasis) might inadvertently make patients feel rejected or stigmatized.This study uses a randomized controlled design to evaluate if a simple environmental modification-changing the spatial location of the hand sanitizer-can naturally nudge physicians to alter their hand hygiene timing without compromising safety. Researchers will discreetly observe the hand hygiene behavior of outpatient dermatologists and ask participating psoriasis patients to complete a brief, anonymous questionnaire regarding their trust in the physician, feelings of stigma, and overall satisfaction with the consultation. The goal is to provide evidence for patient-centered hospital space designs that protect patient psychological well-being while maintaining hygiene standards.

Key Dates

First listed

Apr 27, 2026

Start date

May 1, 2026

Status verified

Apr 2026

Primary completion

Jun 1, 2026

Completion

Jun 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

250 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Arms

• Experimental: Distant Placement Group
  In this experimental arm, the hand rub dispenser is placed at a distant position, greater than 1 meter (approx. 3.3 feet) away from the physician (e.g., on a sink), before the outpatient consultation begins.
• Active Comparator: Conventional Placement Group
  In this active comparator arm, the hand rub dispenser is placed in the conventional position, less than or equal to 0.3 meters (approx. 1 foot) away from the physician (e.g., to the left of the computer), before the outpatient consultation begins.

Primary Outcome Measure

Proportion of Invisible Hand Hygiene Events [ Time Frame: Assessed during the outpatient consultation (average 10-15 minutes per consultation). ]

Central Contacts

• Juan Du, MD
  +86-13601821207
  [email protected]

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