Abstract
Background: Hand washing is vital to prevent the spread of the agent from person to person during
epidemic periods and to reduce the impact of the pandemic on people’s lives, health, livelihoods
and health system.
Objective: This study was conducted to examine the hand hygiene behavior of adults during the
COVID-19 pandemic period.
Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was completed between 15 October 2020 and
30 November 2020 via Google Forms with 627 adult individuals. The data were collected with a
questionnaire form created by the researchers as a result of the relevant literature review.
Results: During the pandemic period, 91.4% of the participants stated that the habit of hand
washing increased. It was observed that handwashing status of participants during the pandemic
process changed in terms of age group, gender and those who considerg hand hygiene important
in combating the epidemic (p<.05). When handwashing behavior of the participants during the
COVID-19 pandemic was examined, it was found that only 14.5% of the participants washed their
hands before entering a toilet. Nearly all of the participants (96.7%) stated that they wash their
hands after using a toilet, 92.7% after coming from outside, 84.1% after shopping, and more than
half (52.2%) after meeting with friends or relatives.
Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, awareness of adult individuals about the importance
of proper hand hygiene has changed. Handwashing behaviors of individuals in the society change
during the pandemic period and this requires the attention of health professionals in particular.
Supporting Institution
Yok
Thanks
The authors would like to offer their special thanks to the study team. We also thank all of the patients who participated in the study.
References
- Ali, M.M., Verrill, L., Zhang, Y. (2014). Self-reported hand washing behaviors and foodborne illness: A propensity score matching approach. J food prot, 77(3):352-358. https:// doi:10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-286
- Assefa, D., Melaku, T., Bayisa, B., & Alemu, S. (2021). Knowledge, Attitude and Self-Reported Performance and Challenges of Hand Hygiene Using Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Among Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic at a Tertiary Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study. Infection and drug resistance, 14, 303–313. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S291690
- Burton, M., Cobb, E., Donachie, P., Judah, G., Curtis, V., & Schmidt, W. P. (2011). The effect of handwashing with water or soap on bacterial contamination of hands. International journal of environmental research and public health, 8(1), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8010097
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020a. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19): FAQ on hand hygiene. https:// www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection control/hcp-hand-hygiene-faq.html (Erişim Tarihi: 09.10.2021).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020b. Show me the science - how to wash your hands. Page last reviewed: December 7, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/ show-me-the-science-handwashing.html (Erişim Tarihi: 12.07.2021).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021. Hand sanitizer use out and about. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/hand sanitizer-use.html (Erişim Tarihi: 09.08.2021).
- Chen, X., Ran, L., Liu, Q., Hu, Q., Du, X., & Tan, X. (2020). Hand Hygiene, Mask-Wearing Behaviors and Its Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Cross-Sectional Study among Primary School Students in Wuhan, China. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(8), 2893. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082893
- Deepak, Faujdar, S. S., Kumar, S., Mehrishi, P., Solanki, S., Sharma, A., & Verma, S. (2020). Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, practice and hand microflora analysis of staff nurses in a rural tertiary care hospital. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 9(9), 4969–4973. https://doi. org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_773_20
- Guo, Y. R., Cao, Q. D., Hong, Z. S., Tan, Y. Y., Chen, S. D., Jin, H. J., … Yan, Y. (2020). The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak - an update on the status. Military Medical Research, 7(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s40779-020-00240-0
- Gustafson, D. R., Vetter, E. A., Larson, D. R., Ilstrup, D. M., Maker, M. D., Thompson, R. L., & Cockerill, F. R., 3rd (2000). Effects of 4 hand-drying methods for removing bacteria from washed hands: a randomized trial. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 75(7), 705–708. https://doi. org/10.4065/75.7.705
- Guzek, D., Skolmowska, D., & Głąbska, D. (2020). Analysis of Gender-Dependent Personal Protective Behaviors in a National Sample: Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(16), 5770. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165770
- Hillier M. D. (2020). Using effective hand hygiene practice to prevent and control infection. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain): 1987), 35(5), 45–50. https://doi. org/10.7748/ns.2020.e11552
- Hirai, M., Graham, J. P., Mattson, K. D., Kelsey, A., Mukherji, S., & Cronin, A. A. (2016). Exploring Determinants of Handwashing with Soap in Indonesia: A Quantitative Analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 13(9), 868. https://doi. org/10.3390/ijerph13090868
- Huang, C., Ma, W., & Stack, S. (2012). The hygienic efficacy of different hand-drying methods: a review of the evidence. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 87(8), 791–798. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.02.019
- Kamming, D., Gardam, M., & Chung, F. (2003). Anaesthesia and SARS. British journal of anaesthesia, 90(6), 715–718. https://doi. org/10.1093/bja/aeg173
- Kantor J. (2020). Behavioral considerations and impact on personal protective equipment use: Early lessons from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 82(5), 1087–1088. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.03.013
- Lotfinejad, N., Peters, A., & Pittet, D. (2020). Hand hygiene and the novel coronavirus pandemic: the role of healthcare workers. The Journal of hospital infection, 105(4), 776–777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.03.017
- Luby SP, Halder AK, Huda T, Unicomb L, Johnston RB. The effect of handwashing at recommended times with water alone and with soap on child diarrhea in rural Bangladesh: An observational study. PLoS Med 2011;8(6):e1001052. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001052
- Luby, S. P., Halder, A. K., Huda, T., Unicomb, L., & Johnston, R. B. (2011). The effect of handwashing at recommended times with water alone and with soap on child diarrhea in rural Bangladesh: an observational study. PLoS medicine, 8(6), e1001052. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001052
- Pascarella, G., Strumia, A., Piliego, C., Bruno, F., Del Buono, R., Costa, F., … Agrò, F. E. (2020). COVID-19 diagnosis and management: a comprehensive review. Journal of internal medicine, 288(2), 192–206. https://doi. org/10.1111/joim.13091
- Rundle, C. W., Presley, C. L., Militello, M., Barber, C., Powell, D. L., Jacob, S. E., … Dunnick, C. A. (2020). Hand hygiene during COVID-19: Recommendations from the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 83(6), 1730–1737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.057
- Saunders-Hastings, P., Crispo, J. A. G., Sikora, L., & Krewski, D. (2017). Effectiveness of personal protective measures in reducing pandemic influenza transmission: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemics, 20, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epidem.2017.04.003
- Todd, E. C., Michaels, B. S., Smith, D., Greig, J. D., & Bartleson, C. A. (2010). Outbreaks where food workers have been implicated in the spread of foodborne disease. Part 9. Washing and drying of hands to reduce microbial contamination. Journal of food protection, 73(10), 1937–1955. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028x-73.10.1937
- Uğurlu, Y.K., Durgun, H., Nemutlu, E., & Kurd, O. (2020). Assessment of ındividuals’ knowledge and attitude of social hand washing during COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Turkey. J Contemp Med 2020;10(4):617-624. doi: 10.16899/jcm.745349
- World Health Organization (WHO), 2021. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) dashboard, 2021. https://www.who.int/emergencies/ diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (Erişim Tarihi: 09.09.2021).
- World Health Organization (WHO), 2020. Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. Interim guidance. WHO; 25 January 2020. https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/ bitstreams/1266296/retrieve 2020 (Erişim Tarihi: 01.07.2021).
Abstract
Giriş: El yıkama, salgın dönemlerinde etkenin kişiden kişiye yayılmasını önlemek ve pandeminin
bireylerin yaşamı, sağlığı, geçim kaynakları ve sağlık sistemi üzerindeki etkisini azaltmak için
hayati önem taşımaktadır.
Amaç: Bu çalışma, COVID-19 pandemi döneminde yetişkinlerin el hijyeni davranışlarını
incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır.
Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel tipteki bu araştırma 15 Ekim 2020 - 30 Kasım 2020 arasında
Google Forms aracılığıyla 627 yetişkin birey ile tamamlanmıştır. Veriler, ilgili literatür taraması
sonucunda araştırmacılar tarafından oluşturulan anket formu ile toplanmıştır.
Bulgular: Pandemi döneminde katılımcıların %91.4’ü el yıkama alışkanlığının arttığını
belirtmektedir. Katılımcıların pandemi sürecinde el yıkama durumlarının yaş grubu, cinsiyet
ve salgınla mücadelede el hijyenine önem verenlere göre değiştiği görülmektedir (p<.05).
Katılımcıların COVID-19 pandemisi sırasında el yıkama davranışları incelendiğinde, katılımcıların
sadece %14.5’inin tuvalete girmeden önce ellerini yıkadığı tespit edilmiştir. Katılımcıların %96.7’si
tuvaleti kullandıktan sonra, %92.7’si dışarıdan geldikten sonra, %84.1’i alışveriş yaptıktan sonra ve
yarısından fazlası (%52.2) arkadaş veya akraba ile görüştükten sonra ellerini yıkadığını belirtmiştir.
Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisi sırasında yetişkin bireylerin uygun el hijyeninin önemine ilişkin
farkındalıkları değişmiştir. Pandemi döneminde toplumdaki bireylerin el yıkama davranışları
değişmekte ve bu durum özellikle sağlık profesyonellerinin dikkatini gerektirmektedir.
References
- Ali, M.M., Verrill, L., Zhang, Y. (2014). Self-reported hand washing behaviors and foodborne illness: A propensity score matching approach. J food prot, 77(3):352-358. https:// doi:10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-286
- Assefa, D., Melaku, T., Bayisa, B., & Alemu, S. (2021). Knowledge, Attitude and Self-Reported Performance and Challenges of Hand Hygiene Using Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Among Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic at a Tertiary Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study. Infection and drug resistance, 14, 303–313. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S291690
- Burton, M., Cobb, E., Donachie, P., Judah, G., Curtis, V., & Schmidt, W. P. (2011). The effect of handwashing with water or soap on bacterial contamination of hands. International journal of environmental research and public health, 8(1), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8010097
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020a. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19): FAQ on hand hygiene. https:// www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection control/hcp-hand-hygiene-faq.html (Erişim Tarihi: 09.10.2021).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020b. Show me the science - how to wash your hands. Page last reviewed: December 7, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/ show-me-the-science-handwashing.html (Erişim Tarihi: 12.07.2021).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021. Hand sanitizer use out and about. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/hand sanitizer-use.html (Erişim Tarihi: 09.08.2021).
- Chen, X., Ran, L., Liu, Q., Hu, Q., Du, X., & Tan, X. (2020). Hand Hygiene, Mask-Wearing Behaviors and Its Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Cross-Sectional Study among Primary School Students in Wuhan, China. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(8), 2893. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082893
- Deepak, Faujdar, S. S., Kumar, S., Mehrishi, P., Solanki, S., Sharma, A., & Verma, S. (2020). Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, practice and hand microflora analysis of staff nurses in a rural tertiary care hospital. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 9(9), 4969–4973. https://doi. org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_773_20
- Guo, Y. R., Cao, Q. D., Hong, Z. S., Tan, Y. Y., Chen, S. D., Jin, H. J., … Yan, Y. (2020). The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak - an update on the status. Military Medical Research, 7(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s40779-020-00240-0
- Gustafson, D. R., Vetter, E. A., Larson, D. R., Ilstrup, D. M., Maker, M. D., Thompson, R. L., & Cockerill, F. R., 3rd (2000). Effects of 4 hand-drying methods for removing bacteria from washed hands: a randomized trial. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 75(7), 705–708. https://doi. org/10.4065/75.7.705
- Guzek, D., Skolmowska, D., & Głąbska, D. (2020). Analysis of Gender-Dependent Personal Protective Behaviors in a National Sample: Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(16), 5770. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165770
- Hillier M. D. (2020). Using effective hand hygiene practice to prevent and control infection. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain): 1987), 35(5), 45–50. https://doi. org/10.7748/ns.2020.e11552
- Hirai, M., Graham, J. P., Mattson, K. D., Kelsey, A., Mukherji, S., & Cronin, A. A. (2016). Exploring Determinants of Handwashing with Soap in Indonesia: A Quantitative Analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 13(9), 868. https://doi. org/10.3390/ijerph13090868
- Huang, C., Ma, W., & Stack, S. (2012). The hygienic efficacy of different hand-drying methods: a review of the evidence. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 87(8), 791–798. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.02.019
- Kamming, D., Gardam, M., & Chung, F. (2003). Anaesthesia and SARS. British journal of anaesthesia, 90(6), 715–718. https://doi. org/10.1093/bja/aeg173
- Kantor J. (2020). Behavioral considerations and impact on personal protective equipment use: Early lessons from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 82(5), 1087–1088. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.03.013
- Lotfinejad, N., Peters, A., & Pittet, D. (2020). Hand hygiene and the novel coronavirus pandemic: the role of healthcare workers. The Journal of hospital infection, 105(4), 776–777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.03.017
- Luby SP, Halder AK, Huda T, Unicomb L, Johnston RB. The effect of handwashing at recommended times with water alone and with soap on child diarrhea in rural Bangladesh: An observational study. PLoS Med 2011;8(6):e1001052. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001052
- Luby, S. P., Halder, A. K., Huda, T., Unicomb, L., & Johnston, R. B. (2011). The effect of handwashing at recommended times with water alone and with soap on child diarrhea in rural Bangladesh: an observational study. PLoS medicine, 8(6), e1001052. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001052
- Pascarella, G., Strumia, A., Piliego, C., Bruno, F., Del Buono, R., Costa, F., … Agrò, F. E. (2020). COVID-19 diagnosis and management: a comprehensive review. Journal of internal medicine, 288(2), 192–206. https://doi. org/10.1111/joim.13091
- Rundle, C. W., Presley, C. L., Militello, M., Barber, C., Powell, D. L., Jacob, S. E., … Dunnick, C. A. (2020). Hand hygiene during COVID-19: Recommendations from the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 83(6), 1730–1737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.057
- Saunders-Hastings, P., Crispo, J. A. G., Sikora, L., & Krewski, D. (2017). Effectiveness of personal protective measures in reducing pandemic influenza transmission: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemics, 20, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epidem.2017.04.003
- Todd, E. C., Michaels, B. S., Smith, D., Greig, J. D., & Bartleson, C. A. (2010). Outbreaks where food workers have been implicated in the spread of foodborne disease. Part 9. Washing and drying of hands to reduce microbial contamination. Journal of food protection, 73(10), 1937–1955. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028x-73.10.1937
- Uğurlu, Y.K., Durgun, H., Nemutlu, E., & Kurd, O. (2020). Assessment of ındividuals’ knowledge and attitude of social hand washing during COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Turkey. J Contemp Med 2020;10(4):617-624. doi: 10.16899/jcm.745349
- World Health Organization (WHO), 2021. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) dashboard, 2021. https://www.who.int/emergencies/ diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (Erişim Tarihi: 09.09.2021).
- World Health Organization (WHO), 2020. Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. Interim guidance. WHO; 25 January 2020. https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/ bitstreams/1266296/retrieve 2020 (Erişim Tarihi: 01.07.2021).
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Nursing |
| Journal Section | Research Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | April 15, 2023 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2023 Volume: 16 Issue: 2 |
E-Journal of Dokuz Eylul University Nursing Faculty was indexed by ULAKBİM Turkish Medical Index, Turk Medline, Turkiye Atıf Dizini, (since february 2021) EBSCO HOST, (since 26th of october 2021) DOAJ and (since 18th of January) Index Copernicus.
