HLTH 511—Handwashing Study
Liberty University: Master of Public Health
HLTH 511—Dr. Barton
Kalia Wight
24 November 2019
A Study into the Practice of Handwashing and the Effects of Age and Gender
Abstract:
Most research on handwashing practices consists of data and analysis. In this study, a
questionnaire of 100 college students was given out, 50 males and 50 females were surveyed on
their age and seconds they take washing their hands. The Pearson R for age and seconds in
handwashing was 0.722 (p<0.05). The independent t-test for the mean difference in seconds
between males and females was t (98) =0.361, P=0.719. Results of this research project data
show that there is not a significant relationship between age and handwashing. The value of
standard deviation and variance for females is less than that for males indicating the data for
females has less variation and therefor more closely clustered around the mean.
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Introduction
Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps that we can take to prevent
illnesses spreading germs to others. Many diseases and illness are spread by not washing hands
and in doing so we are to prevent not only the spread of illnesses, but deaths caused by diseases
and illnesses and lower antibiotic use. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),
proper handwashing can reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40%, and
respiratory illness, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%. Additionally, teaching
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proper handwashing among children, families and childcare providers can save 1 out every 3
children who get sick with diarrhea and 1 out of 5 children from respiratory infections like
pneumonia. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the connection between recurrence of
handwashing and age. Additionally, demonstrated is a study among gender and time spent
washing hands which has been proven that the time spent washing hands in seconds is over-
exaggerated.
Methods
Sample—A convivence sample of 80 college students was used. 40 males and 40 females
