A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study of the Frequency of White Coat Cleaning and Stethoscope Wiping Among Hospital Physicians

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  • SUZUKI Hiromichi
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital
  • ISHIMARU Naoto
    Department of Respiratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, Akashi Medical Center
  • KINOSHITA Kensuke
    Department of Medicine, Mito Kyoto General Hospital, University of Tsukuba
  • NAKAZAWA Kazuhiro
    Department of Medicine, Tsukuba Central Hospital
  • OHNISHI Hisashi
    Department of Respiratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, Akashi Medical Center
  • KINAMI Saori
    Department of Respiratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, Akashi Medical Center
  • TARU Yoshinori
    Department of Nephrology, Tsukuba Central Hospital
  • ISHIKAWA Hiroichi
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital

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Other Title
  • 医師における白衣の交換頻度及び聴診器の消毒に関する多施設共同横断研究
  • イシ ニ オケル ハクイ ノ コウカン ヒンド オヨビ チョウシンキ ノ ショウドク ニ カンスル タシセツ キョウドウ オウダン ケンキュウ

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Abstract

  White coats and stethoscopes are known sources of transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms. However, neither the frequency of white coat changes nor that of stethoscope disinfection has been investigated in Japan. A multicenter surveillance study was performed of the frequencies of white coat changes, stethoscope diaphragm disinfection, and the types of white coats used among full-time physicians working at four hospitals in Japan from July to August 2013. The surveillance sheets of 308 physicians (98% of total physicians) were analyzed. The frequency of white coat changes was once a week in half of the physicians (48%) and once daily in 23 physicians (7.5%). In total, 162 physicians (53%) wiped the stethoscope diaphragm during clinical practice, but only 37 physicians wiped the stethoscope diaphragm after examining each patient. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the number of years of clinical experience (≥10 years) was an independent factor associated with a lower frequency of white coat changes (p=0.04), and that male physicians wiped the stethoscope diaphragm less frequently than female physicians (p=0.01). The type of hospital was not associated with the frequency of either white coat changes or stethoscope diaphragm disinfection. It is important for clinicians to change their white coat every day and wipe the stethoscope diaphragm after examining each patient to prevent multidrug-resistant organism transmission. The current surveillance study revealed that most hospital physicians did not perform appropriate white coat changes or stethoscope diaphragm disinfection. Further investigation is required to clarify the factors involved.<br>

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