Methodological approach to follow the effectiveness of a hand hygiene peer education training programme at Hungarian schools

Abstract

Purpose: The authors intended to develop a novel procedure and research method that follows the effectiveness of the peer-educational approach in handwashing among school children. Materials and methods: To ask the children about their sociodemographic background, health behaviour, hand hygiene knowledge, and health attitudes, and questionnaires were applied. The education on proper handwashing procedures was followed by a test with a mobile UV-light detection system (Semmelweis Scanner, http://www.handinscan.com/), and the scans were evaluated through an intrinsic computer software. Results: Our newly developed questionnaire-based research method and the hand-rubbing technique followed by a test with a mobile UV-light detection system may become a reliable and valid scientific measurement of the effectiveness of hand hygiene training programmes. Conclusions: The Hand-in-Scan technology and questionnaire-based research method provide proper tools for evaluating the successful peer education method. It can significantly elevate the level of children's compliance, which leads to a better hygienic consciousness.