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IMPROVING HAND HYGIENE IN CRUISE SHIP: AN INTERVENTION STUDY
1Department of Microsystems, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway.
Open Research Europe
|December 15, 2025
Summary
Cruise ship hand hygiene interventions, including surface disinfection and monitoring, proved ineffective. Optimal placement of dispensers and reminders are key to improving passenger hand hygiene compliance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infection Control
- Maritime Health
Background:
- Cruise ships present unique infection control challenges due to close proximity.
- Hand hygiene is a critical measure for preventing disease transmission onboard.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various hand hygiene improvement strategies on a cruise ship.
Main Methods:
- An intervention study was conducted on the cruise ship 'Celestyal Olympia'.
- Four arms included baseline measurement, surface disinfection, behavioral monitoring, and training.
Main Results:
- Suboptimal hand hygiene frequency was observed (7.6 soap, 1.6 hand-rub doses per person/day).
- Surface disinfection did not reduce microbial loads; monitoring revealed technique deficiencies.
- Crew training improved knowledge but not behavior; compliance depended on dispenser placement and reminders.
Conclusions:
- Applied interventions did not significantly improve hand hygiene on the cruise ship.
- Environmental factors and clear recommendations are crucial for promoting passenger hand hygiene.
- Language barriers and passenger disinterest pose challenges to effective communication strategies.
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