The Effects of Hand Hygiene on Illness Rates Among Students in University Residence Halls
University study demonstrates fewer missed school days among university students that used PURELL along with hand hygiene education vs. students that did not.
White, Cindy PhD a; Kolble, Robin BSN a; Carlson, Rebecca MSN a; Lipson, Natasha BA a; Dolan, Mike BS b; Ali, Yusuf PhD b; Cline, Mojee PhD b*
Results:
The overall increase in hand-hygiene behavior and reduction in symptoms, illness rates, and absenteeism between the product group and control group was statistically significant. Reductions in upper respiratory-illness symptoms ranged from 14.8% to 39.9%. Total improvement in illness rate was 20%. The product group had 43% less missed school/work days.
Conclusion:
Hand-hygiene practices were improved with increased frequency of handwashing through increasing awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, and the use of alcohol gel hand sanitizer in university dormitories. This resulted in fewer upper respiratory-illness symptoms, lower illness rates, and lower absenteeism.
American Journal of Infection Control. 31: 364-70, 2003
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