BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of mandatory, scheduled handwashing on actual absenteeism due to infectious illness in elementary school pupils in Denmark. METHODS: A 3-month pilot intervention study, randomized between 2 schools, was performed on 652 pupils age 5 to 15 years. The pupils at the intervention school (IS; n=290) were required to wash their hands before the first lesson, before lunch, and before going home. Those at the control school (CS; n=362) continued their usual handwashing practices. All absences due to illness were recorded, and data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significantly reduced rate of absenteeism for the IS compared with the CS (P=.002). For girls, the rate was 1.05 periods (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.90 to 1.22) for the IS versus 1.35 (95% CI=1.26 to 1.44) for the CS. For boys, these rates were 0.87 (95% CI=0.72 to 1.05) and 1.12 (95% CI=0.92 to 1.36). An alternative approach demonstrated that the odds ratio for absence was 0.69 (95% CI=0.52 to 0.92) for the IS compared with the CS. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that handwashing could be an effective tool to reduce absences due to infectious illness in elementary school pupils. A school policy regarding hand hygiene and teaching of hand hygiene is warranted.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of mandatory, scheduled handwashing on actual absenteeism due to infectious illness in elementary school pupils in Denmark. METHODS: A 3-month pilot intervention study, randomized between 2 schools, was performed on 652 pupils age 5 to 15 years. The pupils at the intervention school (IS; n=290) were required to wash their hands before the first lesson, before lunch, and before going home. Those at the control school (CS; n=362) continued their usual handwashing practices. All absences due to illness were recorded, and data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significantly reduced rate of absenteeism for the IS compared with the CS (P=.002). For girls, the rate was 1.05 periods (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.90 to 1.22) for the IS versus 1.35 (95% CI=1.26 to 1.44) for the CS. For boys, these rates were 0.87 (95% CI=0.72 to 1.05) and 1.12 (95% CI=0.92 to 1.36). An alternative approach demonstrated that the odds ratio for absence was 0.69 (95% CI=0.52 to 0.92) for the IS compared with the CS. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that handwashing could be an effective tool to reduce absences due to infectious illness in elementary school pupils. A school policy regarding hand hygiene and teaching of hand hygiene is warranted.
Authors: Robert Dreibelbis; Matthew C Freeman; Leslie E Greene; Shadi Saboori; Richard Rheingans Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-11-14 Impact factor: 9.308
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Authors: Shanina C Knighton; Marian Richmond; Trina Zabarsky; Mary Dolansky; Herleen Rai; Curtis J Donskey Journal: Am J Infect Control Date: 2019-10-29 Impact factor: 2.918
Authors: Leslie E Greene; Matthew C Freeman; Daniel Akoko; Shadi Saboori; Christine Moe; Richard Rheingans Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2012-07-16 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Shadi Saboori; Leslie E Greene; Christine L Moe; Matthew C Freeman; Bethany A Caruso; Daniel Akoko; Richard D Rheingans Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2013-08-12 Impact factor: 2.345