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Scheduled hand washing in an elementary school population
D Master1, S H Hess Longe, H Dickson
1Department of Family Practice, Providence Hospital, Southfield, Mich., USA.
Family Medicine
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Implementing a scheduled hand-washing program in elementary schools significantly reduced student absenteeism due to communicable illnesses, particularly gastrointestinal ones.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Communicable illnesses are a significant cause of absenteeism in elementary schools.
- Hand washing is a primary preventive measure against the spread of infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a mandatory, scheduled hand-washing program on student absenteeism.
- To assess the program's effectiveness in reducing absences due to acute communicable diseases in elementary school children.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental design was employed at Trombley Elementary School.
- An intervention group (n=143) participated in a scheduled hand-washing regimen (minimum four times daily).
- A control group (n=162) maintained usual hand-washing practices.
Main Results:
- The hand-washing group showed fewer absent school days due to all acute communicable illnesses (Relative Risk = 0.75).
- Absences due to gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly reduced in the intervention group (Relative Risk = 0.43).
- No statistically significant difference in absences due to respiratory symptoms was observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- A structured, scheduled hand-washing program effectively reduces acute communicable illnesses, especially gastrointestinal infections, in elementary school populations.
- This intervention demonstrates a practical strategy for improving school attendance and health.