On the Role of Habit in Self‐Reported and Observed Hand Hygiene Behavior

Abstract

Background The present contribution tests the main ideas that (a) hand hygiene behavior is associated with habit, and (b) this association is robust when deliberative constructs (i.e. knowledge and intention) are controlled for, indicating an automatic component in hand hygiene behavior. Methods Two correlational studies using different operationalisations of hand hygiene behavior are reported. In Study 1, hand hygiene was assessed in the context of food preparation; data were measured using the Day Reconstruction Method in a sample of the general population. Study 2 considered hand hygiene compliance of healthcare workers applying video observation by body cameras and additionally self‐reported behavior. In both studies, habit was assessed using the Self‐Report Behavioral Automaticity Index. Results Both studies found the expected positive association between habit and hand hygiene (0.271 < r < 0.570). Habit was further analyzed in combination with knowledge and intention (Study 2), and emerged as a significant predictor of observed hand hygiene, while knowledge and intention were marginally significant. No significant interactions were found. Conclusions The present work provides evidence that hand hygiene behavior is reliably related to habit. The findings speak to the notion that addressing the automatic route to hand hygiene behavior when designing interventions can be fruitful.

An Investigation of the General Population’s Self-Reported Hand Hygiene Behaviour and Compliance in a Cross-European Setting

“…Research indicates that hand hygiene behaviour is defined at an early stage through role models such as parents or guardians which will influence their practice until changed through education. The results of the study may indicate a link between the reported lack of early parental influence, particularly in UK respondents, and the subsequent lack of knowledge and poor practice of good hand hygiene compliance which then persists until corrected [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Hand hygiene education targeted at parents may have the potential to make significant improvements in hand hygiene performance for present and future generations.…”

“…Most hand hygiene behaviour is thought to be inherent in nature and is typically defined at an early age through a mixture of early childhood education on personal hygiene and through the influence of key role models like parents and teachers in reinforcing the behaviour [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Therefore, if hand hygiene education at an early age is inadequate, or influence from key role models is inaccurate, then poor behaviour will persist unless otherwise corrected [ 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Improving young children’s handwashing behaviour and understanding of germs: The impact of A Germ’s Journey educational resources in schools and public spaces

“…HH behaviours are complex and multifactorial. Behavioural determinants consist of both deliberative and automatic influences [32], such as psychological, social, emotional, environmental, and habitual factors [33,34]. An individual's propensity to engage in effective HH behaviours is likely to depend on a variety of these factors, and different individuals in a population group are also likely to depend on differing factors [35].…”

Electronic Monitoring Systems for Hand Hygiene: Systematic Review of Technology

“…All the 89 reviewed studies were published between 2009 and 2020, with 9 (10%) dated in or before 2010 [ 42 , 46 , 56 , 60 , 81 , 83 , 86 , 92 , 113 ], 38 (43%) dated between 2011 and 2015 [ 32 , 33 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 45 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 59 , 61 , 63 - 65 , 67 , 68 , 72 , 73 , 78 - 80 , 82 , 84 , 87 - 89 , 93 - 97 , 99 - 101 , 108 , 116 ], and 42 (47%) dated in or after 2016 [ 25 , 29 - 31 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 47 , 50 , 53 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 62 , 66 , 69 - 71 , 74 - 77 , 85 , 90 , 91 , 98 , 102 -…”