Effectiveness of hand hygiene interventions in reducing illness absence among children in educational settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to establish the effectiveness of handwashing in reducing absence and/or the spread of respiratory tract (RT) and/or gastrointestinal (GI) infection among school-aged children and/or staff in educational settings.

Design

Randomised-controlled trials (RCTs).

Setting

Schools and other settings with a formal educational component in any country.

Patients

Children aged 3-11 years, and/or staff working with them.

Intervention

Interventions with a hand hygiene component.

Main outcome measures

Incidence of RT or GI infections or symptoms related to such infections; absenteeism; laboratory results of RT and/or GI infections.

Results

Eighteen cluster RCTs were identified; 13 school-based,

SUBMITTER: Willmott M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4717429 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature