Jerusalem Handwashing Study

Hebrew University of Jerusalem1,029 enrolled

Overview

The primary objective of this preschool intervention trial was to determine whether a hygiene program can promote handwashing and thereby reduce illness absenteeism.

Please see citations of published reports.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

1,029

Conditions

Illness Absenteeism Handwashing Behavior

Interventions

Preschool handwashing intervention programBEHAVIORAL

This preschool-based intervention program used a multi-pronged approach that included elements aimed at preschool staff, children, and school nurses, as well as hygienic changes to the classroom environment.

Home component interventionBEHAVIORAL

The home component was intended to reinforce handwashing practices through education in the home. It consisted of a video, a magnet, and a card.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 YearsMax age: 4 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Preschool teachers of 3- and 4-year-old children in the state-run public system of the Jerusalem region, who were recommended by their supervisors as being likely to comply with the protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Exposure to project during testing phase (N=1 preschool), preschool which included new Ethiopian immigrants who were unlikely to have phones or speak Hebrew (N=1 preschool) * Project staff knew teachers personally and thought they would not comply with protocol (N=2 teachers).

Locations (1)

Hebrew University

Jerusalem, Israel

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Illness absenteeism

Time frame: Each school day during study period

Secondary Outcomes

Handwashing behavior

Time frame: Observational visits in classrooms (3-4)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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