Using nonpharmaceutical interventions to prevent influenza transmission in elementary school children: parent and teacher perspectives.
OBJECTIVE
Schools act as "amplifying sites" for the spread of infectious diseases, outbreaks, and pandemics. This project assessed which nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are most acceptable to parents and teachers of school children in grades K-5 to K-8 in Pittsburgh public schools.


METHODS
During the spring of 2007, the Pittsburgh Influenza Prevention Project surveyed 134 teachers and 151 parents representing nine elementary schools regarding attitudes toward NPIs and their usage by adults and school children during seasonal influenza outbreaks.


RESULTS
General etiquette practices such as covering coughs, handwashing, and using hand sanitizer were highly acceptable to both groups, while masks and gloves were not.


CONCLUSIONS
The success of an NPI or a set of NPIs depends on both its efficacy and the feasibility of implementing it with relevant populations. If masks, gloves, and other more intrusive NPIs are to be used in community settings during a severe influenza season or pandemic, it is clear that there is significant preparatory work needed to increase acceptability on the part of the adults. Without such acceptance, it is highly unlikely that children and their supervising adults will participate.
Stebbins
Samuel
S
Center for Public Health Preparedness, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. stebbins@pitt.edu
Downs
Julie S
JS
Vukotich
Charles J
CJ
D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D005178:Faculty; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012572:School Health Services