Want to Keep Your Kids Flu-Free? Simple Ways to Get Kids to Wash Their Hands

Newswise — Keeping our hands clean is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy, but anyone with children knows that is easier said than done. However, just in time for flu season, a new study shows that, with a little effort, kids can be taught to make hand washing a habit.

The findings, presented at the American Public Health Association's Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C., show that a simple, low-cost intervention can result in big hygiene changes.

The study, conducted with a sample of 492 children in grades first through sixth, found that the most successful intervention consisted of a teacher verbal cue to action combined with modeling, education on hand hygiene and a visual demonstration of the effectiveness of hand hygiene. This intervention resulted in a sustainable increase in the frequency of hand hygiene among elementary school aged children.

In regards to practical applications of the findings, the study researchers suggest that if there are parent volunteers and a small amount of funds available, the school nurse could train volunteers to teach a hand hygiene module, utilizing germ-simulating lotion. This could be combined with something as simple and cost free as having the classroom teachers cue students to wash their hands prior to lining up for lunch as he/she sets the example by immediately washing his/her hands at the classroom sink.

"With flu season right around the corner, now is a great time to be having a conversation about what schools can do to encourage kids to develop the habit of washing their hands," said Michelle Snow, RN, MSPH, MSHR, lead researcher on the study. "Our research shows that for a very low cost and just a little bit of effort, we can have an impact on a behavior that is important for our children's health, not just now, but throughout their lives."

Session 5082.0 " Inexpensive and time efficient hand hygiene interventions increase elementary school children's hand hygiene rates

Researchers: Michelle Snow, RN, MSPH, MSHR, George White, PhD, and Han Kim, PhD

Date: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 8:30 AM

Information for media:The APHA Annual Meeting Press Office will be located in Room 101 of the Washington Convention Center. The full Annual Meeting program and abstracts are available online at http://www.apha.org/meetings/sessions/. Final programs with session locations, along with daily highlights and other press materials, will be available on site at the APHA Press Office. Please visit our Web site for additional Annual Meeting press information.