title: 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 (n(1) = 135) reported 3.9 hand washing episodes/day, whereas the intervention group (n(2) = 140) reported 5.7 episodes/day; control group (n(1) = 164) obtained a 3.2 measured quality score, whereas the intervention group (n(2) = 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.
authors.affiliation: Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. suchadak@tuc.or.th
authors.forename: Suchada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaewchana
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simmerman
authors.forename: Ratana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Somrongthong
authors.forename: Piyarat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suntarattiwong
authors.forename: Somrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lertmaharit
authors.forename: Tawee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chotipitayasunondh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult