The ubiquitous handshake, as a globally acceptable corporate and cultural greeting, has persistently been brought under the physician’s scanner.
The power of this age old tradition of hand-to-hand contact between individuals via handshakes is up for further threat as results from a new scientific study conveys that ‘fist bumping’ is a better option for infection control over ‘high-fiving’ or handshakes.
The ancient custom of handshakes as a non-verbal communication code finds its origins in Greek legend as a ‘gift’ bestowed by God. But the evolution of the ‘handshake’ from its medieval beginnings as a gesture of peace between warring clans to its current cultural status in business and politics is now being questioned by healthcare experts.
Two scientific theories published recently in international medical journals bring forth the need to seek alternate greeting rituals to ward off threat of infections caused by handshakes or physical hand-contact between doctors and patients.
By Sangeeta Ghosh Dastidar
