Journal of Education and Health Promotion 2277-9531 10 9 2020 09 01 Evaluating the efficacy of handwashing demonstration on hand hygiene among school students – An interventional study 1 6 29265 EN . Shubhi Goel . Byalakere Rudraiah Chandrashekar Journal Article 2023 03 03 BACKGROUND: Washing of hands and maintenance of appropriate hand hygiene plays a significant<br />role in preventing the spread of many communicable diseases. However, literature demonstrating<br />the efficacy of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended handwashing procedure among<br />schoolchildren in India is scanty.<br />AIM: The aim of this study was to assess hand hygiene efficacy through graphical assessment<br />technique utilizing ultraviolet (UV)‑sensitive fluorescent lotion before and after handwashing<br />demonstration among students aged 12–18 years.<br />MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an interventional study carried out over a period of 5 days<br />among 21 schoolchildren aged 12–18 years in their respective school premises. Participants were<br />requested to rub their hands with an UV‑sensitive fluorescent lotion and then wash them. Hands<br />were air‑dried and examined under UV rays for blue light emission in a dark room. Emission of blue<br />light highlighted parts of hand where lotion is still present and area not washed properly. Such areas<br />were painted with nontoxic skin‑friendly paints. Painted hands were imprinted over graph papers.<br />Hand hygiene demonstration was provided to the participants as per the WHO guidelines by qualified<br />public health dentists using audiovisual aids. Postintervention, the procedure followed at baseline<br />was adopted to obtain imprints of uncovered (not covered during hand hygiene process) parts of<br />hands. The mean percentage of uncovered parts of hand was assessed and compared between<br />baseline and postintervention.<br />RESULTS: The overall mean percentage score of uncovered hand area significantly reduced from<br />73.90 ± 19.81 mm2<br /> at baseline to 20.05 ± 17.0 mm2<br /> after demonstration of proper hand hygiene<br />guidelines (P < 0.001).<br />CONCLUSION: Hand hygiene demonstration by qualified public health dentists using audio‑visual<br />aids has significantly contributed to improving their hand hygiene practice.<br /><br /> https://jehp.mui.ac.ir/article_29265_eaf441351bf076375ab3a90f8b89b696.pdf