. Shubhi Goel; . Byalakere Rudraiah Chandrashekar
Volume 10, Issue 9 , September 2020, , Pages 1-6
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Washing of hands and maintenance of appropriate hand hygiene plays a significantrole in preventing the spread of many communicable diseases. However, literature demonstratingthe ...
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BACKGROUND: Washing of hands and maintenance of appropriate hand hygiene plays a significantrole in preventing the spread of many communicable diseases. However, literature demonstratingthe efficacy of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended handwashing procedure amongschoolchildren in India is scanty.AIM: The aim of this study was to assess hand hygiene efficacy through graphical assessmenttechnique utilizing ultraviolet (UV)‑sensitive fluorescent lotion before and after handwashingdemonstration among students aged 12–18 years.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an interventional study carried out over a period of 5 daysamong 21 schoolchildren aged 12–18 years in their respective school premises. Participants wererequested to rub their hands with an UV‑sensitive fluorescent lotion and then wash them. Handswere air‑dried and examined under UV rays for blue light emission in a dark room. Emission of bluelight highlighted parts of hand where lotion is still present and area not washed properly. Such areaswere painted with nontoxic skin‑friendly paints. Painted hands were imprinted over graph papers.Hand hygiene demonstration was provided to the participants as per the WHO guidelines by qualifiedpublic health dentists using audiovisual aids. Postintervention, the procedure followed at baselinewas adopted to obtain imprints of uncovered (not covered during hand hygiene process) parts ofhands. The mean percentage of uncovered parts of hand was assessed and compared betweenbaseline and postintervention.RESULTS: The overall mean percentage score of uncovered hand area significantly reduced from73.90 ± 19.81 mm2 at baseline to 20.05 ± 17.0 mm2 after demonstration of proper hand hygieneguidelines (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Hand hygiene demonstration by qualified public health dentists using audio‑visualaids has significantly contributed to improving their hand hygiene practice.