A survey of hand hygiene practices on a residential college campus.
BACKGROUND
Upper respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal tract infections are the cause of a significant level of illness on college campuses. However, preventative measures such as handwashing and hand sanitation are often not well-supported, understood, or practiced on campus.


METHODS
A confidential, self-administered on-line survey was performed during April-May 2006.


RESULTS
Nine hundred and ninety-four participants completed the survey. Of these, 49% were undergraduates, 30% were graduates, and 34% lived in residence halls on campus.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend the importance of creating an awareness of proper hand hygiene practices as they relate to the everyday context of a college campus. In addition, we believe there is a need for hand hygiene education targeted at students. Finally, we strongly recommend that college authorities provide soap and a means of hand drying in all residential bathrooms.
Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community and the Department of Biology, Boston, MA 02115, USA. scotte2@simmons.edu
Elizabeth
E
Scott
Karabeth
K
Vanick
D001900:Boston; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities