Evaluating a children's learning resource to improve handwashing behaviour

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

In this article…

• The benefits of teaching young children about handwashing for infection control

• Effectiveness of an educational resource at improving handwashing in different settings

• How nurses could use the resource to improve handwashing in community and hospital settings

Key points

Handwashing is vital for infection control, but there are few evidence-based interventions aimed at children

A set of resources to teach children how and why they need to wash their hands has been effective in school and community settings in three continents

The resources have been adapted for hospital use, taking account of limited facilities and the time constraints nurses face

Nurses could use the resources to teach children about hand hygiene in hospital and community settings as part of infection control

Further resources have been developed to teach children hand hygiene in relation to respiratory diseases to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Effective handwashing can reduce up to a third of infections and is an important line of defence against community and hospital-acquired infection, including Covid-19. Young children are particularly vulnerable to spreading and contracting infectious disease, and often lack the knowledge and motivation to engage in effective handwashing strategies. Despite this, there are few evidence-based handwashing interventions aimed at children. This article summarises research on the effectiveness of a set of learning resources for children designed to improve handwashing behaviour, which have been tested in school and community settings; it also discusses how nurses could use these resources in hospital and community settings to help with infection control.