07 Aug Simple Internet Program Increased Handwashing and Reduced Infections
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Paul Little MBBS, BA, MD, DLSHTM, MRCP, FRCGP, FMedSci
Professor of Primary Care Research
University of Southampton
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Prof. Little: Hand washing has been recommended to help prevent respiratory infections (coughs, colds flu, sore throats) – this can be important in normal winters but might be especially important in pandemic flu years. However, there has been little evidence from randomised trials to date to show that handwashing works.
A simple internet based intervention to support increasing hand washing behavior reduced the numbers of infections caught and the number of infections given to family members,
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Prof. Little: A simple internet based intervention to support increasing handwashing behaviour reduced the numbers of infections caught and the number of infections given to family members, reduced diarrhoea and vomiting, reduced attendance at physicians offices and reduced antibiotic use.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Prof. Little: That anyone who has trouble with respiratory infections or wants to cut down the number of infections should be advised to wash their hands, aiming for 10 times per day. People might find it helpful to access the website from the study that supported handwashing – which has been made available. In a pandemic widespread handwashing should be recommended.
Citation:
An internet-delivered handwashing intervention to modify
influenza-like illness and respiratory infection transmission
(PRIMIT): a primary care randomised trial
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Paul Little MBBS, BA, MD (2015). Simple Internet Program Increased Handwashing and Reduced Infections
Last Updated on August 7, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD