Can washing your hands with intention boost well-being? VA study puts mindfulness to the test
NCT ID NCT05261282
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This completed study tested a simple idea: what if doctors and nurses used hand washing as a cue to practice mindfulness? 343 VA physicians and nurses took part. Some received mindfulness education, group discussions, and an optional app, while others did not. The goal was to see if this approach could increase mindfulness, improve well-being, and boost proper hand hygiene. The study measured these outcomes right after the program and again later to see if any benefits lasted.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- mindful hand hygiene (behavioural intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to improve healthcare worker well-being and infection control.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study without a treatment phase, so results may not apply broadly. The intervention is behavioural and effects may be modest or short-lived.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
Houston, Texas, 77030-4211, United States
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VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105-2303, United States
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