Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates
Summary: Aims: Hand hygiene (HH) is an essential practice to evade the transmission of germs and minimize community-acquired infections. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of HH and other health and safety measures before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. in univ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Infection Prevention in Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000258 |
| _version_ | 1797202979764305920 |
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| author | Yehia S. Mohamed Anastasiya Spaska Gabriel Andrade Mohamed A. Baraka Hafiz Ahmad Sinclair Steele Eman Y. Abu-rish Eiman Mohamed Nasor Kowthar Forsat Hajar Jamal Teir Ibrahim Bani Debadatta Panigrahi |
| author_facet | Yehia S. Mohamed Anastasiya Spaska Gabriel Andrade Mohamed A. Baraka Hafiz Ahmad Sinclair Steele Eman Y. Abu-rish Eiman Mohamed Nasor Kowthar Forsat Hajar Jamal Teir Ibrahim Bani Debadatta Panigrahi |
| author_sort | Yehia S. Mohamed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Aims: Hand hygiene (HH) is an essential practice to evade the transmission of germs and minimize community-acquired infections. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of HH and other health and safety measures before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. in university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted between December 2022 and March 2023, targeting university students from all disciplines and study levels. A 44-item questionnaire was used which included student demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice of HH, as well as the anticipated risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Participants consented before commencing the questionnaire, and the collected data were analysed using the student's t-test and ANOVA test, as required. Results: A total of 378 responses were received nationwide, with a valid response rate of 98%. The HH knowledge revealed an average score of 62%, which was significantly higher in students with moderate family income. Additionally, the average attitude score was 74.7%, as measured on the Likert scale, and the score lacked any correlation with the other variables. HH practice showed an average score of 86.8%, which was correlated with the students' gender and field of study. Conclusions: This study showed a moderate level of knowledge, a good attitude, and good practice around HH and other safety measures among the UAE's university students. Socioeconomic status, gender, and field of study influenced the study outcomes. This study highlights the need for effective awareness campaigns to reinforce students' health and safety, especially for male and non-health science students, in order to protect against communicable diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:12:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7b527350f2940619f5244fe49c8bcfd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-0889 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:12:03Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infection Prevention in Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7b527350f2940619f5244fe49c8bcfd2024-04-17T04:49:48ZengElsevierInfection Prevention in Practice2590-08892024-06-0162100361Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab EmiratesYehia S. Mohamed0Anastasiya Spaska1Gabriel Andrade2Mohamed A. Baraka3Hafiz Ahmad4Sinclair Steele5Eman Y. Abu-rish6Eiman Mohamed Nasor7Kowthar Forsat8Hajar Jamal Teir9Ibrahim Bani10Debadatta Panigrahi11College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy Pharmacy (boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; Corresponding author. Address: College of Medicine, SZC, Ajman University, University Road, Al-Jurf, Ajman, UAE. Tel.: +971507086411.College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAECollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAEPharmacy Department, Fatima College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy Pharmacy (boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptCollege of Medical Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; Molecular Division- NGS and COVID Laboratory, RAK Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, UAECollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAEDepartment of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAECollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAECollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAECollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAECollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, UAESummary: Aims: Hand hygiene (HH) is an essential practice to evade the transmission of germs and minimize community-acquired infections. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of HH and other health and safety measures before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. in university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted between December 2022 and March 2023, targeting university students from all disciplines and study levels. A 44-item questionnaire was used which included student demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice of HH, as well as the anticipated risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Participants consented before commencing the questionnaire, and the collected data were analysed using the student's t-test and ANOVA test, as required. Results: A total of 378 responses were received nationwide, with a valid response rate of 98%. The HH knowledge revealed an average score of 62%, which was significantly higher in students with moderate family income. Additionally, the average attitude score was 74.7%, as measured on the Likert scale, and the score lacked any correlation with the other variables. HH practice showed an average score of 86.8%, which was correlated with the students' gender and field of study. Conclusions: This study showed a moderate level of knowledge, a good attitude, and good practice around HH and other safety measures among the UAE's university students. Socioeconomic status, gender, and field of study influenced the study outcomes. This study highlights the need for effective awareness campaigns to reinforce students' health and safety, especially for male and non-health science students, in order to protect against communicable diseases.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000258Infection preventionCOVID-19Safety measuresEconomic impactHand hygiene |
| spellingShingle | Yehia S. Mohamed Anastasiya Spaska Gabriel Andrade Mohamed A. Baraka Hafiz Ahmad Sinclair Steele Eman Y. Abu-rish Eiman Mohamed Nasor Kowthar Forsat Hajar Jamal Teir Ibrahim Bani Debadatta Panigrahi Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates Infection Prevention in Practice Infection prevention COVID-19 Safety measures Economic impact Hand hygiene |
| title | Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full | Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_fullStr | Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_short | Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice before, during and post COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among university students in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_sort | hand hygiene knowledge attitude and practice before during and post covid 19 a cross sectional study among university students in the united arab emirates |
| topic | Infection prevention COVID-19 Safety measures Economic impact Hand hygiene |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000258 |
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