Only 5 Percent Wash Hands Correctly

A new study by Michigan State University researchers found that only 5 percent of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections. Whats more, 33 percent didnt use soap and 10 percent didnt wash their hands at all. Men were particularly bad at washing their hands correctly. The study, based on observations of 3,749 people in public restrooms, appears in the Journal of Environmental Health.
 
These findings were surprising to us because past research suggested that proper handwashing is occurring at a much higher rate, says Carl Borchgrevink, associate professor of hospitality business and lead investigator on the study.
 
Handwashing is the single most effective thing one can do to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Failing to sufficiently wash ones hands contributes to nearly 50 percent of all foodborne illness outbreaks
 
It takes 15 to 20 seconds of vigorous handwashing with soap and water to effectively kill the germs, the CDC says, yet the study found that people are only washing their hands, on average, for about 6 seconds.
 
Borchgrevink and colleagues trained a dozen college students in data collection and had them observe hand washing in restrooms in bars, restaurants and other public establishments. The student researchers were as unobtrusive as possible by standing off to the side and entering results on a smart phone, for example.
 
The study is one of the first to take into account factors such as duration of the hand washing and whether people used soap.
 
Specific findings include:
- Fifteen percent of men didnt wash their hands at all, compared with 7 percent of women.
- When they did wash their hands, only 50 percent of men used soap, compared with 78 percent of women.
- People were less likely to wash their hands if the sink was dirty.
- Handwashing was more prevalent earlier in the day. Borchgrevink said this suggests people who were out at night for a meal or drinks were in a relaxed mode and hand washing became less important.
- People were more likely to wash their hands if a sign encouraging them to do so was present.
 
Borchgrevink, who worked as a chef and restaurant manager before becoming a researcher, said the findings have implications for both consumers and those who operate restaurants and hotels.
 
Imagine youre a business owner and people come to your establishment and get foodborne illness through the fecal-oral route because people didnt wash their hands and then your reputation is on the line, he says. You could lose your business.
 
Borchgrevinks co-authors were JaeMin Cha and SeungHyun Kim. All three are faculty members in MSUs School of Hospitality Business.

Source: Michigan State University