Reflection discussion: Search the internet for a four moments of Hand Hygiene poster that you feel explains it the best and could be used in your workplace. Explain why you chose the poster.
I chose the Ontario Public Health “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene” poster, which serves as a reminder to wash our hands before interacting with residents, before performing aseptic or clean procedures, after interacting with residents, and after touching their surroundings. We can successfully lower the risk of virus transmission, safeguard vulnerable residents, and keep a clean and safe environment by adhering to these guidelines. The poster offers straightforward instructions that guarantee persistent adherence to good hand hygiene habits.
I like the point that you made about how disease transmission can be reduced by using the moments of hand hygiene, and keeping our environment clean and safe. The emphasis on creating a clean and safe environment reinforces the importance of sustained adherence to hygiene protocols.
After reviewing several hand hygiene posters, I believe the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario is the most effective choice for our workplace. The poster presents the four key moments for hand hygiene in an obvious and easy-to-understand way, making it simple for staff to follow. Its strong visuals and colour coding help reinforce the message and make it more memorable, which is especially useful in a fast-paced environment.
Since Public Health Ontario developed the poster, it aligns with our local infection control guidelines, ensuring we are promoting best practices. It is also easily accessible for download and printing, making it convenient to share and display throughout the workplace.
Overall, I believe this poster would serve as a constant reminder to maintain proper hand hygiene and help promote a safer environment for both patients and staff.
Hi Yu,
I completely agree with your choice of the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario. Yu, you made a great point about how the poster uses eye-catching titles, contrasting colours, simple icons, and short phrases to make the information easy to remember and apply. In a fast-paced workplace, having a clear and visually engaging reminder like this is so important for promoting consistent hand hygiene practices and ensuring patient safety. Well said!
I agree with you. I also chose the public health poster for the “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene”. It clearly presents the four critical moments in a professional layout. It clearly shows when and why to clean hands and why. In addition, it is adapted from a trusted source and based on WHO’s recommendation.
Hi Helen,
I like how you emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable residents hand hygiene really is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways we can prevent transmission. And you’re right, the clarity of the poster helps ensure consistent practice, especially when staff are busy or under pressure.
It’s a great visual reminder for both new and experienced staff, and helps reinforce a culture of safety and accountability. Thanks for sharing.
I think you chose a really effective poster. The Ontario Public Health “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene” poster does a great job breaking down when hand hygiene is most important, making it easy to follow during a busy day. I like how it highlights both resident contact and their environment, which is something that can sometimes be overlooked. The straightforward instructions make it clear and practical, helping staff stick to good habits and protect vulnerable residents at the same time.
I like your Ontario Public Health “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene” poster choice. It’s simple, straightforward, and practical for everyday use in healthcare settings. You made a great point about how these guidelines help protect vulnerable residents and reduce the risk of transmission. Having visual reminders around the workplace makes a difference in promoting consistent hand hygiene among staff. Thanks for sharing your reflection!
Great choice! The Ontario Public Health poster does an excellent job of breaking down the key moments in a way that’s easy to follow in real-time care settings. I agree that its clear and direct approach helps reinforce consistent hand hygiene, especially in environments where residents are at higher risk. It’s also a great tool for staff training and a constant reminder to prioritize safety. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Helen,
Thank you for sharing the Ontario Public Health “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene” poster. It is a very important tool. I like how you explained each moment and showed how it helps keep vulnerable residents safe and maintains a healthy environment.
Hand hygiene is often ignored because it seems simple, but it is one of the best ways to stop the spread of infection. The poster is a helpful reminder for staff, residents, and visitors to wash their hands properly.
Have you found any good ways to help everyone remember these moments every day? For example, do you use reminders during team meetings or put hand sanitizer stations in important places? I would love to hear your ideas!
Hi Helen, That is a great choice! The “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene” poster provides clear and practical guidance that supports consistent infection prevention practices. By following these steps, healthcare workers can significantly reduce the risk of virus transmission and protect vulnerable residents. It’s a simple yet powerful visual tool that promotes a safe and clean care environment.
I used the Four moments of Hand Hygiene poster from the Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia. The Poster is simple and has good pictures to represent each moment of hand hygiene. The poster is colourful and self explanatory. The bold pictures can grab attention instantly, and inspire healthcare workers to prioritize hand-washing. Each moment has a clear picture for initial patient contact, before aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure and after patient/environment contact.
Placing these posters in strategic places such as the room entrance and inside the patient’s room can be a good strategy for infection control.
Hello Adaeze,
I agree that the bold images and clear layout of the PICNet poster are very effective in catching attention and reinforcing the importance of hand hygiene. Placing the posters at room entrances and inside patient rooms is a great way to keep the message visible and top of mind for staff. The reminder to “clean your hands before and after contact with the patient or patient environment” is simple and easy to remember. Thanks for sharing your choice!
Reference
Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia. (n.d.). Your 4 moments for hand hygiene. https://picnet.ca/4moments/
Hello Adaeze,
I agree that your selected poster is bold, self explanatory and would grab someone’s attention immediately especially once placed on an area where it is noticable.
I agree that the hand hygiene poster from the Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia is a great choice. It’s simple, easy to understand, and the bold visuals do a good job of highlighting each of the four key moments. The clear images make it easier for healthcare workers to quickly grasp when hand hygiene is needed, which is especially helpful in fast-paced environments. Placing the poster in high-traffic areas like room entrances or inside patient rooms is a smart way to keep hand hygiene top of mind and support infection control efforts.
Hi, Adaeze:
I chose the same poster because I felt it explained the four moments of hand hygiene best in relation to my practice. The first reason is quite simple: it clearly illustrates the four moments with pictures, making them easier to understand compared to using only text. Secondly, it is easy to follow, as the pictures are placed under each scenario where the four moments of hand hygiene need to be implemented.
Thank you for sharing! I agree—the Four Moments of Hand Hygiene poster from PICNet is an excellent tool. The use of visuals really helps reinforce the message, especially in busy healthcare settings where quick reminders are needed. I like how you pointed out the value of placing the posters at room entrances and inside patient rooms; those high-traffic areas are ideal for catching staff attention and encouraging compliance. It’s amazing how something as simple as strategic placement and strong visuals can make a big difference in infection prevention. Great choice!
Hi Adaeze,
I liked the poster you selected as it has pictures depicting what those moments of hand hygiene look like. I think visual aids can be helpful for staff and it would be useful in healthcare settings that are busy. Some staff don’t have time to stop and read a poster, but a quick glance at this poster and you can clearly see which moments hand hygiene should be completed. For this reason I think it would work well in a hospital setting.
I recommend using the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario.
This poster effectively outlines the four critical moments for hand hygiene in healthcare settings.
Before initial patient/patient environment contact
Clean your hands when entering the patient’s environment, before touching the patient or any objects in the environment.
Before aseptic procedure
Clean your hands immediately before any aseptic procedure, such as changing a dressing, oral care, drawing blood, or administering IV medication.
After body fluid exposure risk
Clean your hands immediately after an exposure risk to body fluids and after glove removal.
After patient/patient environment contact
Clean your hands when leaving the patient’s environment, after touching the patient or any objects in the environment.
Reasons for Choosing This Poster:
Clarity and Simplicity: The poster presents information in a straightforward manner, making it easy for healthcare workers to understand and remember the key moments for hand hygiene.
Visual Appeal: Its clean design and use of color coding help in quickly identifying each moment, which is beneficial in fast-paced healthcare environments.
Relevance to Practice: The scenarios depicted are directly applicable to daily routines in healthcare settings, reinforcing the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections.
Credibility: Being published by Public Health Ontario, it aligns with provincial guidelines and best practices, ensuring that the information is both accurate and authoritative.
Implementing this poster in the workplace can serve as a constant visual reminder for staff, promoting consistent hand hygiene practices and enhancing patient safety.
Hello Nnwuli,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I agree with you that the Public Health of Ontario is an effective and reliable source about the 4 moments of hand hygiene. The illustration effectively explains the 4 moments of hand hygiene, emphasizing their importance in preventing healthcare-associated infections. The resource also provides comprehensive guidance and is a valuable tool for healthcare providers to ensure effective hand hygiene practices.
A “Four moments of Hand Hygiene” poster that I feel explains it the best and works well in my workplace is the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario (PHO). This poster follows current infection prevention and control best practices, making the information reliable and up-to-date. It also uses eye-catching titles, contrasting colors, simple icons, and short phrases, all of which make it easy to remember and convenient for staff to follow in their daily routines.
I have selected the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster by Public Health Ontario for use in our workplace. This choice is based on its clear alignment with our existing infection prevention and control practices and its effectiveness in promoting safe hand hygiene behaviors among staff.
Reasons for Selection
Consistency with Existing Practices: This poster is already in use at our workplace, ensuring continuity in training and reinforcement of hand hygiene protocols.
Clarity and Simplicity: The poster presents the Four Moments of Hand Hygiene in a straightforward manner, making it easy for staff to understand and apply in daily practice.
Evidence-Based Guidelines: Developed by Public Health Ontario, the poster is grounded in evidence-based infection prevention and control guidelines, ensuring its reliability and relevance.
Visual Appeal: The use of clear visuals and concise text enhances comprehension and retention of hand hygiene practices among staff.
The “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster by Public Health Ontario is an effective tool for promoting hand hygiene in our workplace. Its alignment with our current practices and its evidence-based approach make it a valuable resource for enhancing infection prevention and control efforts.
Hello Pushpinder.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I also selected Public Health Ontario’s Four Moments for Hand Hygiene poster, and I absolutely concur with your reasons. Particularly in hectic clinical settings when prompt reminders are crucial, the poster’s simplicity and clarity make it simple to comprehend and use. I also liked the visual appeal, especially the way the lesson is reinforced by using real-world examples to emphasise each moment. As you said, Public Health Ontario’s legitimacy offers even more value because their resources are trusted and widely used in Ontario’s healthcare settings. Did this poster affect your personal hand hygiene habits? Have you seen it posted in your healthcare settings or places of employment?
The “Four moments of Hand Hygiene” poster selected is for use in my workplace is from World Health Organization. I selected this poster because I encounter with residents on a daily basis and this depicts a clear guide on how to keep myself as well as the residents safe.
1. Clean Hands before touching resident. This protects residents from any harmful germs carried on your hands.
2. Clean hands immediately before performing any clean/aseptic procedure. This protect resident form harmful germs that may enter their body.
3. Clean your hands immediately after a procedure involving risk to body fluids (and fluid glove removal). This helps to protect yourself and the environment from harmful residents germs.
4. Clean hands after touching residents at the end of the encounter. This also helps to protect yourself and the environment from harmful residents germs.
hello Janecia, I appreciate this poster as I see it everywhere at work and in the Healthcare sector, such as doctors offices and hospitals. It is za good visual reminder on when the for moment of hand hygiene are. Thank you
I chose this poster because it clearly explains the moment before dealer with patients and the moment after dealing with patient.
The 2 moments BEFORE dealing with a patient are before initial contact so before entering patient room or even before approaching a patient to either just speak to them or even hand them something .
The next Moment for BEFORE is before any aseptic precedure, in other words before you even touch the patient..
The after moments are after you exposed to any bodily fluids. And last AFTER patent contact and after contact with patients environment
By following theses moments of hand hygiene, you protect yourself, your family, the patient, co patients and staff members
Hi Natieja, this poster is great because it clearly shows when to clean your hands before and after seeing a patient. Before, you need to do it before entering their room or touching anything, and again before any procedure to keep things germ-free. After, you should clean up after any contact with body fluids and when leaving the patient’s environment. Following these steps helps protect yourself, your patients, and everyone around you from harmful germs. It’s simple, effective and important to follow.
An effective Four Moments of Hand Hygiene poster is from Health Quality Ontario. It shows a healthcare worker in a patient room with arrows pointing to each key moment: before patient/environment contact, before aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure, and after patient/environment contact. I chose this poster because it uses a clear, real-world setting that makes the hand hygiene moments easy to understand. It also highlights the importance of cleaning hands after touching the patient’s environment, which is sometimes overlooked. The simple, friendly design makes it easy for staff to follow, even during busy shifts.
The Four Moments of Hand Hygiene poster from Public Health Ontario effectively illustrates when healthcare workers should clean their hands to prevent infections and maintain a safe environment. The poster highlights four key moments: before patient/environment contact, before aseptic procedures, after exposure to body fluids, and after patient/environment contact. Each moment is accompanied by clear visuals and concise explanations, ensuring easy comprehension and adherence to best practices. By following these guidelines, healthcare professionals can significantly reduce the spread of harmful germs, protect vulnerable patients, and uphold high standards of infection prevention. The poster’s straightforward design that is easy to understand and authoritative source make it an excellent tool for reinforcing proper hand hygiene habits in healthcare settings.
Hello Gagandeep,
I also love the 4 moments of hand hygiene as explained by Public Health Ontario. It explained the 4 moments of hand hygiene in clear and concise English and beautifully illustrated them with clear pictures. The illustration was easy and straightforward for all to understand.
Hello Gagandeep,
Your choice of the Health Quality Ontario poster is spot on! Its clear, real-world setting effectively illustrates the four moments of hand hygiene, making it easier for healthcare workers to relate to and apply in their daily routines. It’s true that the moments after interacting with the patient’s environment can often be overlooked, so highlighting this aspect is crucial for promoting comprehensive hand hygiene practices.
The friendly and simple design is also an excellent feature, as it can help reduce cognitive load during busy shifts, ensuring that important guidelines are easily accessible and memorable for staff. Visual aids like this are vital in reinforcing safe practices in a fast-paced environment.
Overall, your emphasis on using effective materials to promote hand hygiene is key to fostering a culture of safety and compliance within the unit. Great job advocating for such an important aspect of patient care!
I like the 4 moments of hand hygiene as explained by Public Health Ontario. I like the fact that it is simple to understand and not complicated. I also like the fact that special emphasis was made on what is considered the patient/resident environment and what is considered the health care environment.
The four moments include
1. Moment 1: BEFORE first touching the patient/resident or their environment
2. Moment 2: BEFORE aseptic procedures
3. Moment 3: AFTER body fluid exposure risk
4. Moment 4: AFTER touching the patient/resident or their environment
Patient/resident environment includes all the surfaces, objects, and belongings that surround the patient/resident. For private rooms, this includes all surfaces and items in the room and the bathroom. For shared rooms, this includes all surfaces and items within the curtained space. Examples of these items are side tables, bedding/curtains, private bathrooms, walking devices, and chairs.
The healthcare environment is the environment beyond the patient/resident area. In a private room, this is everything outside the room. In a shared room, this is everything outside of the patient/resident’s curtained space.
Four Moments of Hand Hygiene 1 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Four Moments of Hand Hygiene. (2023). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/H/2023/hh/four-moments-hand-hygiene.pdf?rev=9868f8b351084d34aa7697c5eca9566f&sc_lang=en
Hi Oluwatosin,
I have also chosen the Public Health Ontario poster. I agree that this poster is easy to understand and not complicated. I liked the fact that you clarified the patient environment. Often, people are not fully aware of the patient environment, and it’s very important to know what it includes. Your explanation helped reinforce the key points of the poster. Overall, you did a great job highlighting the important details clearly and simply.
After searching various websites about the four moments of hand hygiene, I found the poster in the Public Health Ontario to be more descriptive and easily understood. The poster has a detailed pictorial explanation about the four moments of hand hygiene. It also explained why each step is needed.
1. Moment 1: BEFORE first touching the patient/resident or their environment
2. Moment 2: BEFORE aseptic procedures
3. Moment 3: AFTER body fluid exposure risk
4. Moment 4: AFTER touching the patient/resident or their environment.
In my opinion, the Public Health of Ontario best explains the four moments of hand hygiene, and it could be used in my workplace. The website utilizes evidence-based information that makes the information current and reliable. Also, the Public Health of Ontario explains the Four Moments of Hand Hygiene uses simple and clear language that makes it easy to understand.
In addition, the website uses visual tools to convey its message to demonstrate the 4 moments of hand hygiene.
I chose Public Health Ontario’s “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster for this discussion post because it is straightforward, easy to understand, and useful. I appreciate that the poster gives the information it conveys a visual representation. An illustration of the necessity of hand hygiene is shown in ‘moment 3’ after body fluid exposure risk after a medical professional empties a Foley catheter bag. The idea that hand hygiene should be done after any risk of coming into contact with bodily fluids is reinforced by this image. By giving real-world examples for every instant, the poster’s pictures aid comprehension and make it simpler for medical professionals to implement the knowledge in their day-to-day work. Additionally, the poster highlights the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the transmission of infection and provides brief explanations of why each instant is crucial. I particularly appreciate that Public Health Ontario created the poster, since they are a reliable and well established source that serves as a foundational guide for infection prevention and control practices in hospitals throughout Ontario. All things considered, this poster is a reliable, visually effective and easy to understand resource that would reinforce good hand hygiene habits in any healthcare setting.
Link to poster: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/9/2008/4-moments-poster-series.pdf
Hello Samoya,
Great post! I also chose the Public Health Ontario “4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster for similar reasons. I agree that the visuals really help make the message clear and practical, especially for newer staff or visual learners. I also liked the example you gave about emptying a Foley catheter bag, it’s a perfect reminder of how important it is to clean our hands after exposure to body fluids. The real-life examples in the poster really do make it easier to apply the information during our shifts. I also appreciate that it’s made by a trusted source and follows Ontario’s infection control standards. It’s definitely a strong and effective tool for promoting safe and consistent hand hygiene at work.
I chose the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario because it clearly outlines the key times when hand hygiene is essential: before touching a patient, before clean or sterile procedures, after exposure to body fluids, and after touching a patient or their environment. It’s adapted from the World Health Organization’s guidelines but tailored specifically to Ontario’s healthcare settings, which makes it both trustworthy and relevant. The poster is easy to understand, with a clean layout and simple visuals that make it suitable for busy workplaces. It serves as a practical reminder for staff to maintain proper hand hygiene throughout their day, helping reduce the spread of infection and promote patient safety.
Reply to Samoya post.
Thank you for sharing your insights on the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster. I agree with your assessment that the visual elements and real-world examples make the information accessible and memorable. Highlighting moment 3, particularly the scenario involving a Foley catheter, really emphasizes how critical hand hygiene is in preventing the spread of infection. The credibility of Public Health Ontario as the source also adds weight to the poster’s value in clinical settings. Resources like this are essential for reinforcing best practices clearly and practically.
Four Moments of Hand Hygiene poster https://picnet.ca/4moments/
This poster contains the visual elements that draw attention and convey the most important information about the Four Moments of Hand Hygiene. These include a title, compelling imagery, and concise text, all strategically arranged to create a clear and memorable visual experience with single pictures. The poster also effectively used white space, two colors that help to guide the viewer’s eye and ensure readability.
1. Moment 1: BEFORE initial patient environment contact
2. Moment 2: BEFORE aseptic procedures
3. Moment 3: AFTER body fluid exposure risk
4. Moment 4: AFTER touching patient environment contact
The “4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster developed by Public Health Ontario (PHO) is the one I feel explains the concept best and would be most effective for use in the workplace.
Why I Chose This Poster:
Clarity and Simplicity: The poster uses clear visuals and straightforward language to explain the four critical times healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene. Each moment is paired with relatable, real-life healthcare scenarios that make the information easy to understand and remember.
Evidence-Based Content: It is grounded in best practices and adapted from the World Health Organization’s guidelines, ensuring it reflects international standards while being tailored to Ontario’s healthcare context.
Relevance to Daily Practice: The moments outlined on the poster match the actions healthcare staff perform routinely, such as before touching a patient, before an aseptic procedure, after exposure to bodily fluids, and after patient contact, making the guidance highly applicable.
Visual Appeal and Accessibility: The poster’s clean design, use of colour, and images help grab attention and aid memory. It’s accessible to both clinical and non-clinical staff and can be posted in various areas such as near handwashing stations, in patient rooms, or at nursing stations.
The four moments are:
1. Before initial patient/patient environment contact
To protect the patient/patient environment from germs carried on your hands.
2. Before aseptic procedure.
To protect the patient from harmful germs, including their own, during invasive procedures.
3. After body fluid exposure risk
To protect yourself and the environment from patient germs.
4. After the patient/patient environment contact
To protect yourself and the healthcare environment from harmful germs.
Reference:
Public Health Ontario. (2011). Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene. Retrieved from:
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/9/2008/4-moments-poster-series.pdf
I understand the significance of the “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene ” By Public health Ontario in preventing infections in my work place.
Hands should be cleaned before interacting with patients or their surroundings.
Prior to aseptic procedures: Wash your hands before doing things like changing dressings or giving prescriptions.
Hands should be cleaned after handling bodily fluids or taking off gloves.
Hands should be cleaned after interacting with the patient or anything in their surroundings.
Patient safety is ensured and the spread of illnesses is lessened when these moments are regularly observed. Even in hectic situations, it is imperative that all healthcare professionals follow these guidelines.
I like the poster listed on ICPnet and the reasons are as follows:
These four moments of hand hygiene were elaborated clearly by pictures and minimal words. Through pictures, I can directly recognize the moments that require proper hand hygiene—entering/leaving the patient’s room, dressing (which requires aseptic technique), and contacting body fluids. Pictures make it easier for me to capture and memorize points than long sentences.
Hi everyone.
I chose this picture from public health Ontario which is explaining about four moments of hand hygiene in health care setting. This picture explained briefly to break the chain of transmission of infection.
1. Before interacting with patient- Hand hygiene must be completed before interacting with patient because there is transient flora of microorganism on our hands that must be removed with the help of hand hygiene and stop the transmission of infection from our hand to patient.
2. Before aseptic procedure- Open skin and Aseptic procedure are very prone to infection underneath skin. Any microorganism form dirty hands can cause infection to wound and problems like sepsis.
3. After body fluid exposure- If our hand are visibly soiled with body fluid, we must follow hand hygiene with soap and water to remove microorganism from our hand to protect our health and health of other patient.
4- After patient environment contact- There should be hand wash after patient environment contact because patient surrounding could have some organism flora.
I love the poster that you chose as it is very informative and it includes the reason why as to why hand hygiene is needed. This is a great reminder for us the importance of hand hygiene and strictly following the 4 moments of hand hygiene. Great work finding this poster and thanks for sharing!
I chose the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario because it explains hand hygiene in a simple and clear way. It shows the four main times when we need to clean our hands: before touching a patient or their environment, before doing any clean or sterile procedure, after any risk of touching body fluids, and after touching a patient or their surroundings. I like how the poster uses easy language and helpful pictures, making it simple to understand for everyone, even new staff. It’s also made for healthcare settings in Ontario, so it follows our local standards. What stood out to me is that this model adds more chances to clean hands compared to other guidelines, which means better protection for both patients and staff. I think this poster would be useful at work if placed in areas like break rooms or near patient rooms. It’s a great reminder to keep hand hygiene a regular habit and helps keep everyone safe.
I agree with your choice of the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario. It’s true that the clear language and visuals make it easy for everyone to understand and follow, especially for new staff. I also like that it focuses on protecting both patients and healthcare workers by highlighting key moments we might sometimes overlook. Placing it in common areas is a smart idea to keep hand hygiene top of mind throughout the day.
One of the most effective “Four Moments of Hand Hygiene” posters I found is from Fraser Health, which clearly illustrates the four key moments in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format. I chose this poster because it uses simple icons and short explanations to show when and why hand hygiene should be performed, before patient contact, before aseptic procedures, after exposure to body fluids, and after patient/environment contact. It’s based on the World Health Organization’s hand hygiene guidelines but adapted to be more practical for fast-paced healthcare environments like hospitals or long-term care. This poster would be very effective in my workplace because it is a constant visual reminder for staff and encourages consistent infection prevention practices. Placing it in high-traffic areas like medication rooms or near patient rooms could help improve compliance and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
Great choice highlighting the Fraser Health poster! I agree that its simplicity and alignment with WHO guidelines make it especially effective in fast-paced environments. Have you seen any impact in your workplace when these kinds of visual reminders are posted in key areas? In my experience, compliance seems to improve when staff have easy access to clear prompts.
I chose the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from Public Health Ontario because it provides a clear, visual explanation of when and why to perform hand hygiene in the workplace. The poster breaks down the four moments—before initial patient/environment contact, before aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, and after patient/environment contact—using simple language and real-life care examples. Its easy-to-follow design makes it effective for busy healthcare settings where staff need quick reminders without reading through long texts.
Additionally, the poster comes from a credible source, Public Health Ontario, which ensures it aligns with evidence-based practices and local infection prevention standards. Having this poster visible in the workplace promotes consistent hand hygiene, reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections, and supports a culture of patient and staff safety. (Source: Public Health Ontario, “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster, http://www.publichealthontario.ca)
Hello Anthonia,
Thank you for sharing. I agree with you since the figure is very specific and clear in explaining the 4 moments for hand hygiene. I like the idea you mentioned that it could be posted in places where nurses could use it as a reminder of the 4 moments for hand hygiene.
I chose the “4 moments for Hand Hygiene information for clients, visitors, families and volunteers” poster from Southern health because it clearly outlines the 4 moments and every body in the community can understand it, and it can be adapted easily to home visits such as:
1. Before entering the home or touching patient care area.
2. Before aseptic procedures such as wound care or catheter care.
3. After handling urine, blood or used dressing.
4. After patient environment care. After leaving the room and leaving the house.
I chose the Public Health Ontario adapted from WHOs 4 Moments for Hand Hyigene because of the clarity and adherence to WHO guidelines. The chosen poster style emphasizes distinct sections for each moment, featuring clear titles, relevant icons, and concise “When?” and “Why?” statements, all within a clean, readable design. The poster prioritizes practical efficacy and user-friendliness in their selection. By highlighting clarity, visual impact, and the “When?” and “Why?” structure, they demonstrate an understanding that effective workplace health posters must be more than just informative; they must be action-oriented and easily digestible for busy professionals. The emphasis on official sources like Public Health Ontario underscores a commitment to evidence-based practices and builds trust among staff. This choice reflects a strategic approach to health communication, aiming for maximum compliance through intuitive design and clear rationale.
Hi Croline,
Awareness of proper hand hygiene in community settings is crucial and needs to be emphasized at all times by healthcare professionals. It is important to remind clients to wash their hands with soap and water for infection control.
After searching the internet for different posters of 4 moments of hand hygiene, I can confidently say that the poster made by the Eastern Health would be a great poster for my workplace. The poster is informative with text and pictures indicating when is hand hygiene needed to be done. The colours used are easy on the eyes and it is easy to read. The pictures indicating when hand hygiene is needed to be done is helpful for my colleagues who are older as well as residents and families that are less fluent in English, as the home I work for is primarily Chinese-speaking. The poster would be a great addition to posted reminders for everyone to do hand hygiene.
Hi Mae,
Great find! I agree that having both visuals and clear text is essential when choosing a hand hygiene poster, especially in a diverse workplace like yours. It’s great that the Eastern Health poster balances accessibility with effectiveness. Visual cues can truly bridge language gaps and make the message more inclusive for residents, families, and staff. Thanks for sharing!
Hi chose the 4 moments of hand hygiene for hospitalized patients to emphasize the importance of hand hygiene during hospitalization to prevent nosocomial infection in both hospital and long-term care.
Health care professionals need to practice proper hand hygiene at all times to break the chain of infection.
Hi Bolatito,
You’ve made a strong and relevant choice by focusing on the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene for hospitalized patients, especially in highlighting its role in preventing nosocomial infections. Emphasizing the importance of consistent hand hygiene among healthcare professionals is crucial in both hospital and long-term care settings, where vulnerable populations are at higher risk.
The 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene poster from Public Health Ontario is a good choice.. Highlighting its simplicity and accessibility is important – visuals that are clear and not overwhelming help ensure the message reaches a wide audience, including those without a healthcare background. Its relevance to Ontario also strengthens its applicability, as it aligns with local policies and infection control standards. Overall, it’s a practical and effective educational tool for promoting proper hand hygiene practices.
I found the Public Health Ontario “4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster to be very useful for keeping hands clean for several reasons:
Simple Design: The poster shows four important times to wash hands: before touching someone, before doing medical procedures, after coming into contact with body fluids, and after touching residents. The clear titles and pictures make it easy to understand, even when things are busy.
Easy-to-Understand Explanations: Each moment includes simple questions like “When?” and “Why?” This helps staff know when to wash their hands, like when they enter a room. This reminds everyone why handwashing is important.
Proven Success:This poster is based on evidence and has helped many healthcare places in Ontario, like Fraser Health, to improve handwashing.
Handy Design: The poster is the right size to put up in common areas. Its clear language is easy for all staff to read, which helps everyone feel more confident about washing their hands.
Helpful in Our Workplace:
Fast Reference: Staff can quickly look at the poster during patient care to remember when to wash hands.
Ready for Audits: It matches hygiene audit forms, which helps everyone understand the importance of proper handwashing during training.
In short, the Public Health Ontario hand hygiene poster is clear and educational, making it a great tool for any healthcare place that wants to keep hand hygiene at a high level.
Thank you for your thoughtful post! I agree that the Public Health Ontario “4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster is an excellent tool for promoting proper hand hygiene in healthcare settings. You explained very clearly how its simple design and easy-to-understand format make it useful, especially in busy environments like long-term care.
The way the poster breaks down each moment with clear “When?” and “Why?” questions really helps staff remember when handwashing is needed. This is so important for infection prevention and control (IPAC), because clean hands are one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs and protect both residents and staff.
I also liked that you pointed out how the poster supports training and matches audit tools. Having the same message shown in both education and practice helps staff stay consistent and confident. Plus, placing it in high-traffic areas means it can act as a quick reminder, even during a fast-paced shift.
Overall, posters like this are a simple but powerful part of our IPAC strategy. They support a culture of safety and remind us that good hand hygiene is everyone’s responsibility. Thanks for highlighting such a practical and effective resource!
I chose this “Four Moments” hand hygiene poster from Fraser Health because it clearly outlines when and why to clean hands in clinical settings, using straightforward text and simple visuals. Each of the four key moments—before patient contact, before aseptic tasks, after body fluid exposure, and after touching the patient or environment—is clearly defined with both a practical action and solid rationale
Here’s why this poster works well in our workplace:
1. Clarity and simplicity
o Its layout is easy to follow, with step-by-step guidance. Each moment is paired with a brief reason to clean hands, reinforcing the importance.
o Well-matched visuals help staff quickly understand the timing and purpose.
2. Evidence-based messaging
o It’s based on the Public Health Ontario “Four Moments” framework, which is grounded in reliable, research-supported infection prevention techniques
3. Practical relevance
o The examples directly apply to our workflow in long-term care. Phrases like “before entering room” and “after handling patient belongings” fit common daily activities.
o Highlighting the why motivates staff to follow protocols by helping them understand the impact of their actions.
4. Staff engagement potential
o I would place this poster in key areas such as nursing stations, break rooms, and near sanitizer dispensers.
o It could also be used during team huddles or IPAC training sessions to prompt discussion and reinforce expectations.
By combining clear visuals with reasons behind the actions, this poster supports both knowledge and behaviour—helping to embed lasting hand hygiene habits throughout our staff.
I selected the attached poster as I feel it explains the 4 moments of hand hygiene best. I like that it not only explains the moments of hand hygiene, but it also explains the why. I think that is important because if people can see the reasoning behind something they are required to do, they will be more likely to do it. I also liked that the font was big and bright, which would catch someone’s eye. I also liked that the poster not only emphasized hand washing as a means to protect patients, but also to protect yourself and colleagues.
Hi Gemma,
Thank you very much for your post. I like this poster too as it is very colourful and really catches people’s eyes. Also, I completely agree with you that including the rationale in this poster will improve the compliance. In addtion, this poster adds some examples for people to understand more about the information on this poster.
Search the internet for a four moments of Hand Hygiene poster that you feel explains it the best and could be used in your workplace. Explain why you chose the poster.
After searching the internet, I believe the Hand Hygiene poster from Ontario Public Health explains the best about the four moments of hand hygiene. I chose this poster because it clearly states “when” and “why” we should perform hand hygiene. Additionally, the design of this poster is simple to read and easy to understand for everyone. This poster could be printed and placed at the workplace to improve overall hand hygiene compliance for all healthcare workers.
Just like many others, I chose the “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene” poster from the Public Health Ontario website. I chose this poster because I find it the most effective for encouraging and reminding us when and where to perform hand hygiene. This poster is displayed on walls, in bathrooms, at patient bedsides, and near sinks and sanitizer stations in both my current and past workplaces. The poster is simple, easy to read and visually appealing.
I chose this poster from Public Health. It has a clear structure. It organized the four moments as numbered steps with an explanation of “When” and “Why”. It is adapted from a trusted source based on WHO’s recommendation and is evidenced-based. It uses simple language and reasoning, reinforcing relevance for all healthcare professionals. This poster are effectively displayed in areas near hand rub sanitizers/dispensers, staff lunchroom, and other staff areas. The right balance of visual and text information is well appropriate for fast reference.
Hello Ivy,
I also chose a similar poster because the other posters that I have come across were not as small as this one, and did not make the information was too much information to the audience. I like this poster because it has the picture, and the message is sufficient for anyone to understand the importance of hand hygiene.
Public Health Ontario uses this poster. It explains clearly the purpose of hand hygiene and the WHO’s “Five Moments” to better match practical workflows by including a clear moment before touching any object or furniture in the patient area. This poster is adapted for Canadian healthcare settings.
Also, this poster strikes a perfect balance between concise visuals and the science-backed rationale for each moment of hand hygiene. Its design is optimized for clarity, compliance, and real-world workflow, which makes an excellent fit for healthcare workplaces seeking to reinforce best practices.
https://muhc.ca/sites/default/files/micro/m-PT-OT/hand-wash.png
I chose the 5 moments of hand hygiene poster by McGill University Health Center as it breaks down after contact with the patient and their bodily fluids as 2 different moments whereas in a normal 4 moments of hand hygiene they are combined. I liked the “extra moment” due to the added emphasis of hand hygiene after touching a patient. A lot of people either forget to do hand hygiene after simple contact (such as brief touching on arm or shoulder, or shaking hands) or assume that because they didn’t come into contact with bodily fluids that their hands aren’t being contaminated. I also like this poster because it is very straight forward.