Improving Hand Hygiene Behavior Using a Novel Theory-Based Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Ann Behav Med
; 56(11): 1157-1173, 2022 Nov 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2029003
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Promoting the adoption of personal hygiene behaviors known to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, such as avoiding touching one's face with unwashed hands, is important for limiting the spread of infections.PURPOSE:
We aimed to test the efficacy of a theory-based intervention to promote the avoidance of touching one's face with unwashed hands to reduce the spread of COVID-19.METHODS:
We tested effects of an intervention employing imagery, persuasive communication, and planning techniques in two pre-registered studies adopting randomized controlled designs in samples of Australian (N = 254; Study 1) and US (N = 245; Study 2) residents. Participants were randomly assigned to theory-based intervention or education-only conditions (Study 1), or to theory-based intervention, education-only, and no-intervention control conditions (Study 2). The intervention was delivered online and participants completed measures of behavior and theory-based social cognition constructs pre-intervention and one-week postintervention.RESULTS:
Mixed-model ANOVAs revealed a significant increase in avoidance of touching the face with unwashed hands from pre-intervention to follow-up irrespective of intervention condition in both studies, but no significant condition effects. Exploratory analyses revealed significant effects of the theory-based intervention on behavior at follow-up in individuals with low pre-intervention risk perceptions in Study 2.CONCLUSIONS:
Results indicate high adoption of avoiding touching one's face with unwashed hands, with behavior increasing over time independent of the intervention. Future research should confirm risk perceptions as a moderator of the effect theory-based interventions on infection-prevention behaviors.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Hand Hygiene
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann Behav Med
Journal subject:
Behavioral Sciences
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Abm
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