Inge Nandrup-Bus1. 1. Health Visitor Department, Fredensborg County, Denmark. inbu@fredensborg.dk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of mandatory, scheduled hand disinfection (HD) on actual absenteeism because of infectious illness in elementary school pupils in Denmark. METHODS: A 3-month intervention study between 2 schools was performed on 656 pupils ages 5 to 15 years. The pupils at the intervention school (IS; n = 318) were required to disinfect their hands 3 times during school hours. Those at the control school (CS; n = 338) continued their usual handwashing (HW) practices, but they had been IS regarding mandatory HW the previous year. All absences because of illness were recorded, and data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Comparison between the IS and itself (CS in 2007) demonstrated a significant difference (P = .018) in reducing absenteeism because of infectious illness, both for girls (P = .011) and boys (P = .029). The CS (IS in 2007) did not show any difference between 2007 and 2008 (P = .86). CONCLUSION: Intervention with mandatory HW may have a lasting pedagogical effect in reducing absenteeism because of infectious illness when exposed to role models. HD could be effective in reducing absenteeism because of infectious illness and a well-placed supplement to HW.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of mandatory, scheduled hand disinfection (HD) on actual absenteeism because of infectious illness in elementary school pupils in Denmark. METHODS: A 3-month intervention study between 2 schools was performed on 656 pupils ages 5 to 15 years. The pupils at the intervention school (IS; n = 318) were required to disinfect their hands 3 times during school hours. Those at the control school (CS; n = 338) continued their usual handwashing (HW) practices, but they had been IS regarding mandatory HW the previous year. All absences because of illness were recorded, and data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Comparison between the IS and itself (CS in 2007) demonstrated a significant difference (P = .018) in reducing absenteeism because of infectious illness, both for girls (P = .011) and boys (P = .029). The CS (IS in 2007) did not show any difference between 2007 and 2008 (P = .86). CONCLUSION: Intervention with mandatory HW may have a lasting pedagogical effect in reducing absenteeism because of infectious illness when exposed to role models. HD could be effective in reducing absenteeism because of infectious illness and a well-placed supplement to HW.
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