INTRODUCTION: Hand hygiene is crucial to prevent nosocomial infections, with the hands of professionals and patients being significant vectors of transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence to hand hygiene at the Rafael Méndez General University Hospital between 2016 and 2022. METHODOLOGY: An observational and descriptive study was carried out in medical-surgical units, collecting annual data. The sample included 1097 professionals and 5416 observation opportunities. RESULTS: The results showed an improvement in hand hygiene until 2021, with a reduction in omission from 64% in 2016 to an overall compliance of 55% in 2020 and 2021. However, in 2022 a significant decline was observed with 79% of omission. The evolution varied depending on the moment and the category observed. CONCLUSION: Adherence to hand hygiene in the Rafael Méndez General University Hospital has shown a positive trend with a gradual annual increase until 2021, highlighting 2020 as a turning point. However, the relaxation of post-pandemic measures has decreased compliance. It is recommended to continue promoting training and evaluation actions to improve hand hygiene among health professionals. Keywords: hands hygiene, hands washing and friction. INTRODUCCIÓN: La higiene de manos es crucial para prevenir infecciones nosocomiales, siendo las manos de profesionales y pacientes vectores significativos de transmisión. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la adherencia a la higiene de manos en el Hospital General Universitario Rafael Méndez durante los años 2016 a 2022. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó un estudio observacional y descriptivo en unidades de hospitalización médico-quirúrgicas, recolectando datos anuales utilizando el Formulario de observación de la técnica de higiene de manos que proporciona la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). La muestra estuvo constituida por 1097 profesionales. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron un total de 5416 oportunidades. Los resultados mostraron una mejora en la higiene de manos hasta 2021, con una reducción en la omisión del 64% en 2016 a un cumplimiento global del 55% en 2020 y 2021. Sin embargo, en 2022 se observó un retroceso significativo con un 79% de omisión. La evolución varió según el momento y la categoría observada. CONCLUSIÓN: La adhesión a la higiene de manos en el Hospital General Universitario Rafael Méndez ha mostrado una tendencia positiva con un incremento gradual anual hasta 2021, destacando el año 2020 como punto de inflexión. No obstante, la relajación de medidas postpandemia ha disminuido el cumplimiento. Se recomienda continuar promoviendo acciones de formación y evaluación para mejorar la higiene de manos entre los profesionales de salud.

Background/Objectives: This study examined the association between participation in a community-based multicomponent physical and recreational programme (ELDERPLAY) and changes in physical performance and frailty-related outcomes in adults aged 65 years and older, and estimated programme delivery costs. The study was designed as a quasi-experimental, non-randomized controlled evaluation conducted in a community setting. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (n = 184) were allocated to an intervention group (n = 103) or a control group (n = 81) through voluntary enrolment and geographic matching. Participant enrolment and data collection were carried out between July 2022 and December 2023, after ethics approval had been obtained. The intervention consisted of 20 supervised sessions (two per week) combining Vivifrail-based multicomponent exercises with simple recreational activities. Primary outcomes were physical performance and frailty-related function, assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery and the Timed Up and Go test. Secondary exploratory outcomes included actigraphy-derived daily step count, heart rate, and sleep parameters, recorded over seven consecutive days at a single intermediate assessment point. Analyses were conducted using analysis of covariance and generalized estimating equations adjusted for cholesterol, COVID-19 vaccination and Barthel Index score. Programme costs were estimated using an activity-based costing approach. Results: Compared with the control group, participants in the intervention group showed greater improvement over time in balance, gait performance, chair-stand performance and overall physical performance (time × group interaction: gait performance p < 0.001, partial eta squared 0.450; chair-stand performance p < 0.001, 0.306; SPPB total score p < 0.001, 0.361; Timed Up and Go p < 0.001, 0.224). At 10 weeks, the adjusted mean SPPB total score was 9.62 (95% CI 9.25–10.00) in the intervention group and 7.80 (95% CI 7.37–8.23) in the control group, and the adjusted mean Timed Up and Go was 8.85 s (95% CI 8.08–9.62) versus 12.04 s (95% CI 11.15–12.92). Higher daily step counts were also observed in the intervention group; heart rate and sleep parameters were recorded cross-sectionally at a single intermediate assessment point that coincided with the delivery of the programme and are reported only as descriptive values. The programme was delivered at a mean cost of €92.3 per participant, or €62.3 per participant when the research monitoring devices are excluded. Conclusions: Participation in a community-based multicomponent exercise programme incorporating recreational activities was associated with improvements in clinically relevant physical performance outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. The programme was delivered in full at a mean delivery cost of €92.3 per participant in a real-world community setting. Because allocation was not randomized, the groups differed at baseline, and outcome assessment was carried out by a single unblinded assessor who designed and coordinated the programme but did not deliver the sessions, these findings are associative and require confirmation in a randomized trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07864831 (retrospectively registered).