Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic period

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study was performed to better assess the perceptions, motivating factors, and behaviors associated with the use of hand washing to prevent H1N1 influenza transmission during the peak pandemic period in Korea.</p> <p>...

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Main Authors: Kim Seon-Ung, Son Dae-Yong, Cheong Hae-Kwan, Park Jae-Hyun, Ha Chang-Min
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-07-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/10/222
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author Kim Seon-Ung
Son Dae-Yong
Cheong Hae-Kwan
Park Jae-Hyun
Ha Chang-Min
author_facet Kim Seon-Ung
Son Dae-Yong
Cheong Hae-Kwan
Park Jae-Hyun
Ha Chang-Min
author_sort Kim Seon-Ung
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study was performed to better assess the perceptions, motivating factors, and behaviors associated with the use of hand washing to prevent H1N1 influenza transmission during the peak pandemic period in Korea.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was completed by 942 students at a university campus in Suwon, Korea, between December 1 and 8, 2009. The survey included questions regarding individual perceptions, motivating factors, and behaviors associated with hand washing for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to one year prior, 30.3% of participants reported increasing their hand washing frequency. Female students were more likely to practice more frequent hand washing. Women also perceived the effectiveness of hand washing to be lower, and illness severity and personal susceptibility to H1N1 infection to be higher. Study participants who were female (OR: 1.79-3.90) who perceived of hand washing to be effective (OR: 1.34-12.15) and illness severity to be greater (OR: 1.00-3.12) washed their hands more frequently.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Korean students increased their frequency of hand hygiene practices during the pandemic, with significant gender differences existing in the attitudes and behaviors related to the use of hand hygiene as a means of disease prevention. Here, the factors that affected hand washing behavior were similar to those identified at the beginning of the H1N1 or SARS pandemics, suggesting that public education campaigns regarding hand hygiene are effective in altering individual hand hygiene habits during the peak periods of influenza transmission.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-24614cdfdec14520b1e9d580828aaf542022-12-22T01:06:50ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342010-07-0110122210.1186/1471-2334-10-222Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic periodKim Seon-UngSon Dae-YongCheong Hae-KwanPark Jae-HyunHa Chang-Min<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study was performed to better assess the perceptions, motivating factors, and behaviors associated with the use of hand washing to prevent H1N1 influenza transmission during the peak pandemic period in Korea.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was completed by 942 students at a university campus in Suwon, Korea, between December 1 and 8, 2009. The survey included questions regarding individual perceptions, motivating factors, and behaviors associated with hand washing for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to one year prior, 30.3% of participants reported increasing their hand washing frequency. Female students were more likely to practice more frequent hand washing. Women also perceived the effectiveness of hand washing to be lower, and illness severity and personal susceptibility to H1N1 infection to be higher. Study participants who were female (OR: 1.79-3.90) who perceived of hand washing to be effective (OR: 1.34-12.15) and illness severity to be greater (OR: 1.00-3.12) washed their hands more frequently.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Korean students increased their frequency of hand hygiene practices during the pandemic, with significant gender differences existing in the attitudes and behaviors related to the use of hand hygiene as a means of disease prevention. Here, the factors that affected hand washing behavior were similar to those identified at the beginning of the H1N1 or SARS pandemics, suggesting that public education campaigns regarding hand hygiene are effective in altering individual hand hygiene habits during the peak periods of influenza transmission.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/10/222
spellingShingle Kim Seon-Ung
Son Dae-Yong
Cheong Hae-Kwan
Park Jae-Hyun
Ha Chang-Min
Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic period
BMC Infectious Diseases
title Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic period
title_full Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic period
title_fullStr Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic period
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic period
title_short Perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of H1N1 influenza transmission among Korean university students during the peak pandemic period
title_sort perceptions and behaviors related to hand hygiene for the prevention of h1n1 influenza transmission among korean university students during the peak pandemic period
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/10/222
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