Implementation of the Happy Hand Wash Campaign in Urban Day Care Centers

Purpose: To describe the pilot implementation of an innovative hand washing campaign that utilizes self recording sound buttons in urban daycare centers. Background: Hand washing has been recognized as a vital approach to limiting the spread of infectious disease in daycare centers. Children in daycare centers are 18 times more likely to contract pathogens than stay-at-home children. Despite this knowledge, proper hand washing remains a problem in this environment. Methods: This project describes the pilot implementation of an instructional hand wash program entitled the Happy Hand Wash Campaign on the hand washing behavior in urban daycare centers. The innovation introduced in this project is the use of self recording sound buttons which are used to record the children singing the Happy Hand Wash Song. This button is then placed in bathrooms for the children to play while washing their hands for the proper duration of time. Results: Pilot testing revealed enthusiastic participation in the program among daycare staff and children. Feedback during piloting have lead to a Happy Hand Wash book; mirror clings; sound buttons; and a plan to video children participating for video-streaming on a Happy Hand Wash website. Conclusion: The Happy Hand Wash Campaign introduces innovative use of self recording sound buttons to engage interest of daycare staff and students in hand washing. Further testing of the approach through a random clinical trial is planned. Program efficacy will be measured through pre and post testing; and a required Daycare Monthly Illness Report tracking absenteeism and infection rates.