A handwashing study at some Vancouver Island hospitals found some disturbing results. (CBC)

Doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals at several Vancouver Island hospitals aren't practising proper hygiene, according to an audit conducted into handwashing techniques.

Health professionals were openly observed for the entire month last February at Victoria General, Royal Jubilee, Saanich Peninsula and Nanaimo General hospitals. The audit showed that less than one third of all handwashing is done properly and that physicians are the worst offenders.

On average, they were in compliance 12 per cent of the time.

The head of infection prevention and control for the heath authority, Bev Dobbin, called the results "surprising" and "disappointing."

Dobbin said she was not sure why health professionals have such a low compliance rate but suspects that it's usually because they haven't removed watches or rings before washing.

"You might have done the technique appropriately, but if you had one of those other barriers to hand hygiene, it was a fail," she said.

Prompted by the high failure rate, the health authority has prepared new handwashing guidelines with a goal of 100 per cent compliance.

"We have drafted [a policy] and I anticipate it will be in place by the fall," Dobbin said.

Dobbin said the policy would be voluntary and stipulates no penalties if it is violated.