Clinical Studies Below you will find information for several relevant clinical studies on the benefits of aloe exam gloves, hand hygiene compliance and hospital-acquired infection rates.
Effect of aloe-vera impregnated gloves on hand hygiene attitudes of health care workers. Korniewicz, DM, El Masri M. MEDSURG Nursing. 2007;16(4):247-252.
This study demonstrates that health care workers who use aloe vera gloves had less skin irritation and better compliance with hand hygiene requirements. Further, the introduction of aloe vera medical gloves could lead to a reduction in infection rates.
Compliance with handwashing and barrier precautions. Larson E, Krezer EK. 1995;30:88-106.
Dr. Elaine Larson conducted a monumental study that identified irritation and dryness as the leading deterrents to handwashing. This study led to the CDC recommendation of regular use of products to prevent and treat irritant contact dermatitis caused by hand hygiene products.
Evaluation of aloe vera gel in the treatment of dry skin associated with occupational exposure. West D, Fen ZY. American Journal of Infection Control. 2003;31:40-42.
Dr. Dennis West conducted a study comparing the skin integrity of affected dry and irritated skin study participants before and after the introduction of Aloetouch exam gloves. Study participants wore an aloe glove on one hand — and kept the other hand gloveless — for 30 days. The study concluded that the mean time before the first noticeable improvement for the aloe glove hand was 3.5 days and the mean time to significant improvement in skin quality was 10.4 days. There was no improvement witnessed in the non-gloved hand for any of the participants. The study also indicates that after the aloe glove was removed, the dry and irritated skin of the study participants returned.
Double-blind randomized trial of scheduled use of a novel barrier cream and an oil-containing lotion for protecting the hands of health care workers. McCormick R, Buchman T, Maki D. American Journal of Infection Control. 2000;28:302-10.
Dr. Dennis Maki conducted a study for the American Journal of Infection Control in 2000. An experimental group of healthcare employee study participants used a moisturizing hand lotion to improve skin quality while a control group continued normal activities. The study concluded that hand hygiene compliance improved more than 50 percent over the control group that did not use the lotion.
Effectiveness of a hospital-wide programme to improve compliance with hand hygiene. Pittet D, Hugonnet S, Harbarath S et al. Lancet. 2000;356:1307-11.
Dr. Didier Pittet conducted a study in 1999 at hospital facilities in Geneva. The study proved that hospital-acquired infection rates decreased in proportion to hand hygiene compliance utilizing bedside alcohol-based hand disinfection. In this particular study, when hand hygiene compliance increased by 38 percent, the hospitals experienced a 41 percent decrease in their hospital-acquired infection rates.
Prevalence and correlates of skin damage on the hands of nurses. Larson E, Freidman C, Cohran J et al. Heart Lung. 1997;26:404-12.
In this study, approximately 25 percent of nurses reported symptoms or signs of dryness or irritation involving their hands, and as many as 85 percent noted a history of skin problems.
The Irritant Contact Dermatitis Syndrome. Tupker RA. Detergents and cleansers. In: Van Der Valk PGM, Maibach HI, eds. New York, NY: CRC Press; 1996.
Found that frequent handwashing is a primary cause of chronic dry and irritated skin among healthcare workers.
