COVID-19 PANDEMİ DÖNEMİ ÖNCESİ VE SONRASI EL HİJYEN ALIŞKANLIKLARININ KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic, which affects the whole world, has brought about radical changes in people's daily living habits. This study aimed to compare whether there is a difference in individuals' hand hygiene habits before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The data in this descriptive study were collected by using online survey method. The survey questions evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and their habits before the COVID-19 pandemic and their habits after the COVID-19 pandemic. Hand hygiene score was calculated by using 20 5-point Likert type scale questions and the number of handwashing in a day. Hand hygiene mean score was compared for the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Results: 538 volunteers (406 females, 131 males and 1 transgender male) were included in the study. When the responses to the questions prepared in the Likert type scale were evaluated for each participant. While 194 (36.06%) participants reported that they washed their hands 6-10 times a day before the pandemic, only 60 (11.15%) participants stated that they washed their hands 20 or more times a day. 143 (26.58%) participants stated that they washed their hands 20 or more times a day (p<0.001) after the pandemic. The average hand hygiene score was 81.89 ± 15.76 (between 24 and 105) before the pandemic and 94.69 ± 12.65 (between 24 and 105) after the pandemic. Conclusions: It was determined that the handwashing frequency and average hand hygiene scores of the participants after the COVID-19 pandemic were higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. In the light of the data in our study, which showed strong positive changes in hygiene habits, the importance of hand hygiene is seen once again.