Statistically significant disciplinary differences in hand hygiene knowledge and self-reported practices were apparent among undergraduate Italian healthcare students. Further research is needed to determine the causative factors. The overall low scores on the knowledge items indicate that these students require further education on hand hygiene, particularly in relation to the use of alcohol-based hand rubs.

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Profession influences healthcare workers' hand hygiene (HH) adherence. Greek nursing and medical students were surveyed to determine if there were cross-disciplinary differences in HH education, assessment, knowledge, beliefs and practices. Nursing students' HH knowledge was significantly higher than that of medical students. Nursing students reported significantly more positive HH practices and beliefs, and received more HH education and assessment than medical students. Improving undergraduate HH education may improve graduates' HH knowledge, beliefs and practices.2

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ResultsRegistrars were aware of the importance of evidence-based antibiotic prescribing and the impact of their decisions on resistance. Many expressed a sense of dissonance between their knowledge and behaviours. Contextual influences on their decisions included patient and system factors, diagnostic uncertainty, transitioning from hospital medicine, and the habits of, and relationship with, their supervisor. ConclusionUnderstanding how trainees in general practice perceive and develop antibiotic prescribing habits will enable targeted educational interventions to be designed and implemented at a crucial stage in training, working towards ensuring appropriate antibiotic prescribing in the future.

A B S T R A C T Little research has been done on the experience of diabetes-related amputation. The aim of this study was to allow amputees to describe their experiences of amputation and to

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Participants looked favourably upon learners teaching in general practice, and felt it could enhance learning. Suggestions were made to facilitate near-peer teaching in general practice. Further quantitative research with a larger and more diverse sample is required to determine if these results can be generalised to the wider general practice population.