Nudging Handwashing among Primary School Students in the Philippines: Evidence from a Cluster Randomized Trial.

ABSTRACT: Handwashing is key to preventing the transmission of various infectious diseases of which school-aged children are particularly susceptible. Traditional, information-messaging campaigns may increase handwashing awareness but have had limited success in promoting behavior change. Behavioral economics "nudges," which explicitly target the knowledge-behavior gap, is a promising alternative. We evaluate the impact of school-based nudges in the first fully powered cluster randomized controlled trial in the Philippines. Out of our sample of 132 eligible schools, we randomly assigned half to receive nudges, including contextual cues (painted footpath from toilet to handwashing station) and visible reminders (posters and eye sticker), and half to the control group. Four months after implementation

SUBMITTER: Huang HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8641314 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature