Effect of Intensive Hand Washing Education on Hand Washing Behaviors in Thai Households with an Influenza-Positive Child in Urban Thailand

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of intensive education on self-reported frequency of hand washing (FHW), measured quality of hand washing (QHW), and measured scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) after 7 days and 90 days home-based intensive education of participants (aged >7 years) in households with a influenza-positive child. The authors provided intensive hand washing education using interactive participation including individual training, self-monitoring diary, provision of soap, and so on. There were significant improvements on FHW and QHW on day 7, control group (n₁ = 135) reported 3.9 hand washing episodes/day, whereas the intervention group (n₂ = 140) reported 5.7 episodes/day; control group (n₁ = 164) obtained a 3.2 measured quality score, whereas the intervention group (n₂ = 166) obtained a score of 6.4. Pre-education and 90 days post-education, FHW significantly improved by 2 episodes/day and QHW increased by 3 scores/episode. Knowledge of influenza and hand washing following coughing/sneezing showed significant improvement, but attitude modification toward severity of influenza requires a more intensified and longer intervention.