Samuel Stebbins1, Julie S Downs, Charles J Vukotich. 1. Center for Public Health Preparedness, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. stebbins@pitt.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Schools act as "amplifying sites" for the spread of infectious diseases, outbreaks, and pandemics. This project assessed which nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are most acceptable to parents and teachers of school children in grades K-5 to K-8 in Pittsburgh public schools. METHODS: During the spring of 2007, the Pittsburgh Influenza Prevention Project surveyed 134 teachers and 151 parents representing nine elementary schools regarding attitudes toward NPIs and their usage by adults and school children during seasonal influenza outbreaks. RESULTS: General etiquette practices such as covering coughs, handwashing, and using hand sanitizer were highly acceptable to both groups, while masks and gloves were not. CONCLUSIONS: The success of an NPI or a set of NPIs depends on both its efficacy and the feasibility of implementing it with relevant populations. If masks, gloves, and other more intrusive NPIs are to be used in community settings during a severe influenza season or pandemic, it is clear that there is significant preparatory work needed to increase acceptability on the part of the adults. Without such acceptance, it is highly unlikely that children and their supervising adults will participate.
OBJECTIVES: Schools act as "amplifying sites" for the spread of infectious diseases, outbreaks, and pandemics. This project assessed which nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are most acceptable to parents and teachers of school children in grades K-5 to K-8 in Pittsburgh public schools. METHODS: During the spring of 2007, the Pittsburgh Influenza Prevention Project surveyed 134 teachers and 151 parents representing nine elementary schools regarding attitudes toward NPIs and their usage by adults and school children during seasonal influenza outbreaks. RESULTS: General etiquette practices such as covering coughs, handwashing, and using hand sanitizer were highly acceptable to both groups, while masks and gloves were not. CONCLUSIONS: The success of an NPI or a set of NPIs depends on both its efficacy and the feasibility of implementing it with relevant populations. If masks, gloves, and other more intrusive NPIs are to be used in community settings during a severe influenza season or pandemic, it is clear that there is significant preparatory work needed to increase acceptability on the part of the adults. Without such acceptance, it is highly unlikely that children and their supervising adults will participate.
Authors: Tyler H Koep; W Charles Huskins; Christal Clemens; Sarah Jenkins; Chris Pierret; Stephen C Ekker; Felicity T Enders Journal: J Community Health Date: 2014-12
Authors: Tom Jefferson; Chris B Del Mar; Liz Dooley; Eliana Ferroni; Lubna A Al-Ansary; Ghada A Bawazeer; Mieke L van Driel; Sreekumaran Nair; Mark A Jones; Sarah Thorning; John M Conly Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2011-07-06
Authors: Farhana Sultana; Fosiul A Nizame; Dorothy L Southern; Leanne Unicomb; Peter J Winch; Stephen P Luby Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2017-10-12 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Tyler H Koep; Felicity T Enders; Chris Pierret; Stephen C Ekker; Dale Krageschmidt; Kevin L Neff; Marc Lipsitch; Jeffrey Shaman; W Charles Huskins Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2013-02-05 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Tom Jefferson; Chris B Del Mar; Liz Dooley; Eliana Ferroni; Lubna A Al-Ansary; Ghada A Bawazeer; Mieke L van Driel; Mark A Jones; Sarah Thorning; Elaine M Beller; Justin Clark; Tammy C Hoffmann; Paul P Glasziou; John M Conly Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-11-20
Authors: Núria Torner; Núria Soldevila; Juan Jose Garcia; Cristian Launes; Pere Godoy; Jesús Castilla; Angela Domínguez Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-06-09 Impact factor: 3.295