True or False: Hand hygiene is unimportant when helping with self-administration of medications because they are doing most of the work themselves.TRUEFALSE

False.

Hand hygiene is critically important when assisting individuals with the self-administration of medications, regardless of how much work they are doing themselves. Good hand hygiene helps prevent the transmission of pathogens, which can lead to healthcare-associated infections. Even if the individual is primarily responsible for managing their medications, the person assisting them may come into contact with surfaces, medication containers, or other items that could harbor bacteria or viruses.

Furthermore, during the process of medication administration, there may be opportunities for cross-contamination between the assistant's hands and the medication or the administration device (like a syringe or inhaler). Therefore, promoting hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer before and after assisting with medication is essential for ensuring safety and maintaining health standards. This practice protects both the individual requiring assistance and the assistant themselves.