The association between handwashing practices and illness symptoms among college students living in a university dormitory.
We describe handwashing practices, the association of handwashing with upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, and the effects of gender on handwashing practices among male (n = 215) and female (n = 243) college students. Self-reported frequency of handwashing was not associated with infectious illness symptom reporting. Only a small proportion of males (10%) and females (7%) reported "always" washing their hands before eating. Females were more likely than males to always wash their hands after urinating (69% vs 43%; P < .0001) and after a bowel movement (84% vs 78%; P = .14). Identifying new strategies to increase handwashing may help prevent infectious disease transmission in residence hall environments.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA.
Jyothi
J
Thumma
Allison E
AE
Aiello
Betsy
B
Foxman
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult