A clinical trial evaluation of handwashing products and educational resources to improve hand hygiene in paediatric patients and school children.

Hand hygiene (HH) is an important intervention for reducing transmission of infection. Children are at high risk of infection due to their immature immune systems. Hospital transmitted infections are a worldwide cause concern, with poor HH responsible for up to 20% of cases. This report describes clinical evaluation of the ‘Soaper Stars’; a collection of child-friendly HH products with linked educational resource, developed using the COM-B approach to behaviour change, and designed to encourage correct HH in paediatric patients and schools.

Method: Soaper Star products were distributed on paediatric wards in five UK hospitals, and product use at mealtimes evaluated. Workshops teaching the ‘why when and how’ of handwashing were run in four UK primary schools, with pre and post evaluations to establish impact on knowledge.

Results: The Soaper Stars products stimulated a 38% increase in HHC compared to when only hospital-issued products were available, and verbal feedback from families indicated Soaper Star products encouraged improved HHC by all visitors, not just patients. Workshops in four schools (283 pupils) showed increased knowledge about transmission of infection and need for good HH that was sustained for at least 4 weeks.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that providing children with the age-appropriate knowledge about why HH is necessary, and child-friendly means to maintain their HH, will lead to greater HHC, not just by individual children, but also their families.

McNicholl J, Younie S, Crosby S, Laird K. A clinical trial evaluation of handwashing products and educational resources to improve hand hygiene in paediatric patients and school children. Front. Public Health. (2024) 12:1427749. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1427749