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.