Effect of Glo Germ Visual Feedback on Surgical Hand Antisepsis in Nursing Students (GLO-SHA)

October 30, 2026 updated by: Dilek YILDIRIM TANK, Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University

Beyond Checklists: Glo Germ Feedback Improves Anatomical Surgical Hand Antisepsis

This randomized controlled study evaluated the effect of Glo Germ-based visual feedback on surgical hand antisepsis performance among undergraduate nursing students.

A total of 46 third-year nursing students enrolled in an Operating Room Nursing course were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=23) or a control group (n=23). Both groups received theoretical instruction and conventional practical training in surgical hand antisepsis. In addition, the intervention group received individualized visual feedback using Glo Germ fluorescent training lotion and ultraviolet light to identify areas requiring improvement in hand antisepsis technique.

The primary outcome was surgical hand antisepsis skill performance. Secondary outcomes included knowledge of surgical hand antisepsis and anatomical hand cleanliness. Outcomes were evaluated at the designated assessment points, including a one-month follow-up.

The study aimed to determine whether incorporating fluorescence-based visual feedback into conventional training improves surgical hand antisepsis education among nursing students.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Surgical hand antisepsis is an essential component of infection prevention in perioperative settings. Effective surgical hand antisepsis requires both theoretical knowledge and the correct application of antisepsis procedures, including adequate coverage of anatomical hand and forearm surfaces. Traditional educational methods may not provide sufficient visual information to help students recognize areas missed during hand antisepsis.

This study was designed as a prospective, parallel-group randomized controlled educational trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Glo Germ-based visual feedback in surgical hand antisepsis training among undergraduate nursing students.

The study included 46 third-year nursing students enrolled in an Operating Room Nursing course at a university in Zonguldak, Türkiye. Participants were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=23) or a control group (n=23) using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Allocation concealment was implemented using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes.

Both groups received a 45-minute theoretical educational session and conventional practical instruction on surgical hand antisepsis. Students in the control group received conventional verbal feedback during practical training.

In addition to conventional training, students in the intervention group received Glo Germ-based visual feedback. A fluorescent training lotion and ultraviolet light were used to visualize anatomical areas requiring improvement. Participants received individualized feedback and repeated the hand antisepsis procedure to reinforce correct technique.

The primary outcome was surgical hand antisepsis skill performance, assessed using an 18-item observational checklist. Secondary outcomes included surgical hand antisepsis knowledge, assessed using a 15-item knowledge assessment form, and anatomical hand cleanliness, evaluated through fluorescence-based visual assessment.

Knowledge was assessed at baseline, immediately after training, and at the one-month follow-up. Skill performance was assessed immediately after training and at the one-month follow-up. Fluorescence-based anatomical cleanliness assessment was conducted at the assessment points specified in the study protocol.

Outcome assessments were performed by independent assessors who were blinded to group allocation. The study investigated whether adding individualized fluorescence-based visual feedback to conventional surgical hand antisepsis education improves students' knowledge, practical skills, and anatomical cleanliness.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

46

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Zonguldak, Turkey (Türkiye), 67600
        • Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Being a third-year undergraduate nursing student enrolled in the Operating Room Nursing course.

Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study. Providing written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Having open wounds, cuts, or skin lesions on the hands that could interfere with surgical hand antisepsis procedures.

Having hand eczema or other dermatological conditions affecting the hands that could interfere with training or assessment.

Declining to participate in the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Glo Germ Visual Feedback Group

Participants received a 45-minute theoretical session and conventional practical training on surgical hand antisepsis. In addition, they received individualized visual feedback using Glo Germ fluorescent training lotion and ultraviolet light to identify areas requiring improvement in hand antisepsis technique. Participants repeated the procedure following visual feedback.
Other: Glo Germ-Based Visual Feedback Training

An educational intervention incorporating Glo Germ fluorescent training lotion and ultraviolet light to provide individualized visual feedback during surgical hand antisepsis training. The intervention enabled participants to identify anatomical areas requiring improvement and repeat the antisepsis procedure following feedback.
Active Comparator: Conventional Training Group

Participants received a 45-minute theoretical session and conventional practical training on surgical hand antisepsis. Conventional verbal feedback was provided during practical training. Participants did not receive Glo Germ-based visual feedback.
Other: Conventional Surgical Hand Antisepsis Training

Participants received a 45-minute theoretical educational session covering the principles, importance, and correct procedures of surgical hand antisepsis. This was followed by conventional practical training, including demonstration and supervised practice of surgical hand antisepsis techniques. Verbal feedback was provided to support correct technique and improve participants' practical skills. This standard educational intervention was provided to both the experimental and control groups.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Surgical Hand Antisepsis Skill Performance
Time Frame: Immediately after training and at 1-month follow-up

Surgical hand antisepsis skill performance was assessed using an 18-item observational checklist evaluating the correct execution of surgical hand antisepsis procedures. Each correctly performed step was scored as 1, and each incorrectly performed or omitted step was scored as 0. Total scores ranged from 0 to 18, with higher scores indicating better surgical hand antisepsis performance. Assessments were conducted immediately after training and at the one-month follow-up.
Immediately after training and at 1-month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Surgical Hand Antisepsis Knowledge
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after training, and at 1-month follow-up

Knowledge of surgical hand antisepsis was assessed using a 15-item knowledge assessment form. Total scores ranged from 0 to 15, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge of surgical hand antisepsis. Knowledge was assessed at baseline, immediately after training, and at the one-month follow-up.
Baseline, immediately after training, and at 1-month follow-up
Percentage of Anatomical Hand Cleanliness
Time Frame: Immediately after training (intervention group only) and at 1-month follow-up (both groups)

Anatomical hand cleanliness was assessed using Glo Germ fluorescent training lotion and ultraviolet light. The anatomical regions of the hands and forearms were examined to identify areas with inadequate coverage during surgical hand antisepsis training. The assessment results were calculated and expressed as percentages. Higher percentages indicated better anatomical hand cleanliness. Assessments were performed immediately after training in the intervention group and at the one-month follow-up in both groups.
Immediately after training (intervention group only) and at 1-month follow-up (both groups)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 30, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

December 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 30, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 30, 2026

Last Verified

October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • GLOGERM SURGİCAL HAND WASHING

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be made publicly available. The study data will be maintained confidentially and used in accordance with the approved research protocol, institutional policies, and applicable data protection regulations.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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