Can Flu-Like Absenteeism in Kindergartens Be Reduced Through Hand Hygiene Training for Both Parents and Their Kindergarteners?

Abstract

Background: Hand hygiene has been found as an effective method to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Parents, however, were found to have inadequate knowledge, reporting skills, and parenting practices related to seasonal influenza. The aim of our study was to investigate if there was any correlation between the flu infection among parents and their kindergarteners and ascertain the effectiveness of using hand hygiene interventions in kindergartens to lower kindergarteners’ absenteeism attributable to seasonal flu. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. Fifteen kindergartens were randomly selected from the kindergarten lists in different districts displayed on the Hong Kong government website. From these 15 kindergartens, parents and their kindergarteners were then randomly selected to participate in our hand hygiene program. To support the validity of the program, the WHO hand hygiene checklist was used to ensure sufficient coverage of the objectives. All kindergarteners attended 45-minute session for 4 weeks, while their parents attended a separate session lasting 1 hour. Parents monitored their kindergartners on a daily basis for any flu symptoms and kindergartens monitored their school attendance. Results: The study results showed that kindergarteners with strong parenting and proper hand hygiene compliance had fewer recorded signs and symptoms of flu-like illnesses. Our findings also showed that the kindergarteners’ absence rates in all participating kindergartens owing to flu decreased from 21.5% to 12% of the study period in 3 months. Conclusion: It was found that the flu infection rates of the parents and their kindergarteners were significantly correlated with P = .005. The awareness and personal hygiene skills of the parents and kindergarteners were both raised after the program. The findings in this study supported that positive parenting on hand hygiene can help reduce kindergarteners’ flu-like absenteeism.

Effectiveness of “Hand Hygiene Fun Month” for Kindergarten Children: A Pilot Quasi-Experimental Study

“…The major aim of health education for children should be to help them to make the right choices or decisions related to their health behavior. A quasi-experimental study conducted in Hong Kong found that kindergarten students with strong parenting and proper HH compliance can help to reduce flu-like absenteeism among students [ 17 ]. Another observational study assessed the changes in knowledge and handwashing practices after providing a thematic lecture on hygiene for kindergarten children and reported that the proportion of participants capable to complete handwashing procedures is low [ 18 ].…”

Impact of educational interventions on the prevention of influenza: A systematic review

“…The setting of these studies varied from the household setting ( n = 4) ( 14 , 16 , 23 , 27 ), over the hospital and healthcare facilities ( n = 7) ( 7 , 9 , 10 , 24 – 26 , 28 ), schools ( n = 6) ( 15 , 17 , 18 , 29 – 31 ), and University setting ( n = 2) ( 20 , 22 ), to the corporation worksites ( n = 2) ( 8 , 21 ) and one study was performed on Hajj pilgrims ( 19 ).…”

“…All 21 studies implemented at least one intervention of a promotional program with educational sessions or informative content and reminders. The educational sessions were characterized by education of the target group through either verbally communicated hand and respiratory hygiene lessons (e.g., instructions by telephone, on the internet, or face-to-face), with training or instructions on how and how frequent to practice hand hygiene and to use face masks or in combination with written or visual media (e.g., information leaflets, posters, video/live demonstration) ( 7 , 9 , 15 , 17 – 20 , 31 ). In addition to that, some studies consisted of the provision of hand hygiene materials, either soap ( 14 , 19 ), alcohol-based hand sanitizers ( 14 , 15 , 18 – 20 , 31 ), face masks ( 14 , 19 , 20 ), provided by the researchers to every participating individual ( 14 , 19 , 20 ) or to be shared within their cluster or with others in case of provision at a common place (e.g., common courtyards or school toilets) ( 15 , 18 , 31 ).…”

Does a school-based intervention to engage parents change opportunity for handwashing with soap at home? Practical experience from the Mikono Safi trial in Northwestern Tanzania

“…Parents have a great influence over their children’s health promotion behaviours [ 37 , 38 ]. With growing evidence about the effect of combined interventions on preventing the spread of infectious diseases in general and intestinal helminths in particular [ 20 – 22 ], the parental engagement model tested in this study is a valuable addition to sanitation and handwashing interventions targeting school children.…”