Deployment of a Smart Handwashing Station in a School Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Field Study.

Jeremy Herbert,Elke Hacker,Helen Ford,Alexander Wall,Caitlin Horsham

doi:10.2196/22305

Jeremy Herbert, Elke Hacker + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2196/22305

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Abstract

BackgroundHand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to remove germs, prevent the spread of infectious pathogens, and avoid getting sick. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, health authorities have been advocating good hand hygiene practices.ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study is to field test a prototype smart handwashing station deployed in a school setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe deployed a smart handwashing station and examined key technological considerations including connectivity, security, and data management systems, as well as the health and safety of users.ResultsThe smart handwashing station was deployed for 10 days in a school setting in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The smart handwashing station’s electrical components remained operational during field testing and underwent robust cleaning protocols each day. The handwashing station was used 1138 times during the field test and there was no COVID-19 transmission at the school during the testing.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that a personalized feedback approach using technology can successfully be implemented at a school and can provide a platform to improve hand hygiene among school-aged children.

Highlights

COVID-19, a contagious infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as a global health crisis and pandemic [1]
Hand hygiene is a critical public health control mechanism to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens as the most common way many communicable diseases are transmitted is via hands
We developed a smart handwashing station, incorporating a 365 nm UV light emitting diode (LED) light source, digital camera, and processing electronics within housing constructed from plastic and mounted on a stand

Summary

Introduction

COVID-19, a contagious infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as a global health crisis and pandemic [1]. Hand hygiene is a critical public health control mechanism to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens as the most common way many communicable diseases are transmitted is via hands. A meta-analysis suggests improved hand hygiene interventions may reduce rates of gastrointestinal illness by 31% and respiratory illness by 21% [2]. Hand hygiene interventions have been shown to be cost-effective [3]; hand hygiene is often not sufficiently practiced, with studies reporting compliance rates between 40% and 60% in both the community and among health care workers [4,5,6]. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to remove germs, prevent the spread of infectious pathogens, and avoid getting sick. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, health authorities have been advocating good hand hygiene practices

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