Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study

BACKGROUND: Washing of hands and maintenance of appropriate hand hygiene plays a significant role in preventing the spread of many communicable diseases. However, literature demonstrating the efficacy of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended handwashing procedure among schoolchildren in In...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shubhi Goel, Byalakere Rudraiah Chandrashekar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2020;volume=9;issue=1;spage=226;epage=226;aulast=Goel
_version_ 1819151043817111552
author Shubhi Goel
Byalakere Rudraiah Chandrashekar
author_facet Shubhi Goel
Byalakere Rudraiah Chandrashekar
author_sort Shubhi Goel
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Washing of hands and maintenance of appropriate hand hygiene plays a significant role in preventing the spread of many communicable diseases. However, literature demonstrating the efficacy of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended handwashing procedure among schoolchildren in India is scanty. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess hand hygiene efficacy through graphical assessment technique utilizing ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive fluorescent lotion before and after handwashing demonstration among students aged 12–18 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an interventional study carried out over a period of 5 days among 21 schoolchildren aged 12–18 years in their respective school premises. Participants were requested to rub their hands with an UV-sensitive fluorescent lotion and then wash them. Hands were air-dried and examined under UV rays for blue light emission in a dark room. Emission of blue light highlighted parts of hand where lotion is still present and area not washed properly. Such areas were painted with nontoxic skin-friendly paints. Painted hands were imprinted over graph papers. Hand hygiene demonstration was provided to the participants as per the WHO guidelines by qualified public health dentists using audiovisual aids. Postintervention, the procedure followed at baseline was adopted to obtain imprints of uncovered (not covered during hand hygiene process) parts of hands. The mean percentage of uncovered parts of hand was assessed and compared between baseline and postintervention. RESULTS: The overall mean percentage score of uncovered hand area significantly reduced from 73.90 ± 19.81 mm2 at baseline to 20.05 ± 17.0 mm2 after demonstration of proper hand hygiene guidelines (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hand hygiene demonstration by qualified public health dentists using audio-visual aids has significantly contributed to improving their hand hygiene practice.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T14:27:08Z
format Article
id doaj.art-17b0217f0cce4c76a295b69af9417259
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2277-9531
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T14:27:08Z
publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Education and Health Promotion
spelling doaj.art-17b0217f0cce4c76a295b69af94172592022-12-21T18:22:51ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312020-01-019122622610.4103/jehp.jehp_94_20Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional studyShubhi GoelByalakere Rudraiah ChandrashekarBACKGROUND: Washing of hands and maintenance of appropriate hand hygiene plays a significant role in preventing the spread of many communicable diseases. However, literature demonstrating the efficacy of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended handwashing procedure among schoolchildren in India is scanty. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess hand hygiene efficacy through graphical assessment technique utilizing ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive fluorescent lotion before and after handwashing demonstration among students aged 12–18 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an interventional study carried out over a period of 5 days among 21 schoolchildren aged 12–18 years in their respective school premises. Participants were requested to rub their hands with an UV-sensitive fluorescent lotion and then wash them. Hands were air-dried and examined under UV rays for blue light emission in a dark room. Emission of blue light highlighted parts of hand where lotion is still present and area not washed properly. Such areas were painted with nontoxic skin-friendly paints. Painted hands were imprinted over graph papers. Hand hygiene demonstration was provided to the participants as per the WHO guidelines by qualified public health dentists using audiovisual aids. Postintervention, the procedure followed at baseline was adopted to obtain imprints of uncovered (not covered during hand hygiene process) parts of hands. The mean percentage of uncovered parts of hand was assessed and compared between baseline and postintervention. RESULTS: The overall mean percentage score of uncovered hand area significantly reduced from 73.90 ± 19.81 mm2 at baseline to 20.05 ± 17.0 mm2 after demonstration of proper hand hygiene guidelines (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hand hygiene demonstration by qualified public health dentists using audio-visual aids has significantly contributed to improving their hand hygiene practice.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2020;volume=9;issue=1;spage=226;epage=226;aulast=Goelgraphical assessment techniquehand hygienehand hygiene maintenancehand rubbinghandwashing
spellingShingle Shubhi Goel
Byalakere Rudraiah Chandrashekar
Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
graphical assessment technique
hand hygiene
hand hygiene maintenance
hand rubbing
handwashing
title Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study
title_full Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study
title_fullStr Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study
title_short Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study
title_sort evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students an interventional study
topic graphical assessment technique
hand hygiene
hand hygiene maintenance
hand rubbing
handwashing
url http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2020;volume=9;issue=1;spage=226;epage=226;aulast=Goel
work_keys_str_mv AT shubhigoel evaluatingtheefficacyofhandwashingdemonstrationonhandhygieneamongschoolstudentsaninterventionalstudy
AT byalakererudraiahchandrashekar evaluatingtheefficacyofhandwashingdemonstrationonhandhygieneamongschoolstudentsaninterventionalstudy