Americans get a B-minus on hand hygiene

Sep 29, 2009 2:43 PM

My son started kindergarten this fall, and thus far the three R’s have taken a backseat to the two H’s. Hygiene and Hand-washing have been the subject of several school-day discussions, coloring projects, and videos. And this cleanliness curriculum has made an impression, with my son now lathering up before meals—without any prompting.

Of course, kindergarteners aren't the only ones being schooled in hand-washing and germ-control these days, as public health officials are urging us all to take steps to stem the spread of swine flu (among them, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who recently took a reporter to task for his sneezing technique). A new survey suggests such efforts may be making a difference, as more Americans are embracing good hand hygiene this year than last.

However, there's still plenty of room for improvement. The annual survey was sponsored by the Soap and Detergent Association, a trade group with an obvious financial interest in Americans' hand-washing habits. But it was conducted by an independent research firm, which asked 888 Americans about their hand-washing frequency and technique.

About 50 percent of respondents said they wash their hands more than 10 times per day (up from 36 percent last year).
About 70 percent said they wash their hands at least seven times a day (up from 62 percent).
More respondents this year said they always wash their hands before eating lunch, after coughing or sneezing, and after using the bathroom. This is all good news. Now, for the not-so-good.
Although 62 percent of women said they wash more than 10 times a day, only 37 percent of men reported doing so.
About 39 percent of respondents said they seldom or never wash their hands after coughing or sneezing (no change from 2008).
About 46 percent said they wash their hands for 15 seconds or less (also unchanged from 2008). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or more.

Overall, Americans earned a B-minus on their hand hygiene, compared with C-minus last year. So, we're getting better, but our report card still isn't stellar.

What you need to know. As my 5-year-old will tell you, good hand-washing is something everyone should do to stay healthy—and he'd also be happy to demonstrate proper technique. But in case you don't have an eager kindergartener at hand, here's a how-to video as well as some advice from the CDC:

Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or longer
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve
Put used tissues in a waste basket
Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

—Sophie Ramsey, patient editor, BMJ Group

ConsumerReportsHealth.org has partnered with The BMJ Group (British Medical Journal) to monitor the latest medical research and assess the evidence to help you decide which news you should use.

Follow our swine flu coverage and recommendations, and read a first-hand account of how public humiliation prompted one health professional to perfect her hand washing technique.

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