Messaging Matters: Patient-Centered Signs Motivate Hospital Staff to Wash Hands

Source: Association for Psychological Science: Full Frontal Psychology Blog, November 29, 2011

Adam Grant and colleagues found that using patient-centered signs about the perils of poor hand hygiene inspired more hand washing among hospital staff than signs that used personal consequences to prompt the behavior. At least in regard to hand washing among hospital staff,  “…it appears that altruism is a better motivator than self-interest.”