A kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention to improve children's hand hygiene behavior: A cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

The present study determined the feasibility and initial efficacy of a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention in improving children's hand hygiene (HH) behaviors. A cluster-randomized controlled trial was performed, with a cluster defined as a kindergarten class. Participants were recruited from 20 classes in six kindergartens. A total of 289 children and their families were enrolled in the intervention group, and 293 children and their families were enrolled in the control group. HH behavior and a related knowledge survey, as well as data on absences due to infection, were collected. An 8-week training session on HH for children and an education program combining a seminar and WeChat groups for parents were provided to participants in the intervention group. Two HH behaviors of children, namely, HH after playing outside and 7-stage HH compliance, were significantly different between the two groups after the intervention. The two HH behaviors and knowledge of infections of parents/legal guardians in the intervention group were better than those in the control group after the intervention. The number of absences due to infections in children was lower in the intervention group than in the control group. Kindergarten-based, family-involved interventions effectively improved the HH behavior of kindergarten children and decreased absences due to infections.