| Learning Objective #1: Discuss the importance of hand hygiene in the elementary school population and how it relates to infectious disease and absenteeism | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Describe how nursing research is a valuable component of the school nurse's role |
Objective: This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of a alcohol gel sanitizer as an adjunct to handwashing with standard handwashing practices for reducing absenteeism due to infectious disease in elementary school students. Design: A crossover design with a control group (regular handwashing), a product group (Alcohol Gel), and two phases, with a one-week “washout” period, was used. Population, Sample, Setting, Years: All students, kindergarten through grade three, were eligible; 253 students participated from November, 2001, through May, 2002. Twenty-two children did not participate due to non-consent; 10 children were removed due to skin problems. Intervention and Outcomes Variable: The intervention was education and use of the alcohol gel. Children in the control group were taught hand hygiene as part of their classroom curriculum. A 45-minute “Germ Unit” incorporating the study protocol was taught prior to starting the alcohol gel. The gel was applied at four scheduled times during the day and by teacher discretion. Dispensers were mounted in product classrooms. “Skin checks” were performed weekly. Absenteeism related to infectious disease was the outcome variable. Methods: Absenteeism was documented as respiratory illness, gastrointestinal illness, non-infectious illness, and non-illness absence. Findings: Forty-two children were never absent due to illness while 103 children were ill regardless of the study group. Sixty-nine children became ill while participating in the regular handwashing group; only 39 children became ill while participating in the gel group. Based on McNemar’s test, use of a waterless sanitizer decreased the odds of being absent by 43%. Conclusions: “Healthy Hands” was shown to decrease school absenteeism due to infectious illness. “Healthy Hands” provides a valid and manageable research model that can be implemented into school nursing practice. Implications: State funding is based on the number of children in attendance. The secondary gain is a potential increase in state funding.
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