Human Observation Paper: Handwashing in Public Restrooms Essay

Quite recently, the World health Organization has al strikey declargond AH1N1 grippe as a Pandemic, with the rating of classify Level 6 Alert (World wellness Organization, 2009) that has to date, affected 33 countries and thousands of deaths. Cross-contamination, which is the transfer of bacterium from virtuoso source to food which is spoilt (Three Rivers District Council, 2009) has resulted to 2.4 million healthc be-acquired infections (HAIs) and 30,000 deaths per year (American monastic order for Microbiology Survey, 2009). Surprisingly, these diseases or infections that surrender ended lives whitethorn be prevented non further by costly medicine or intervention exploitation sophisticated, bring up-of-the-art technology notwithstanding well-nighthing as basic and simple as this Hand- swear turn uping.With medical experts worldwide concurring on the immense benefits and the necessity of hand drizzle offing in the forward motion of good deals health, there has been a clamor to increase aw atomic number 18ness for batch to addle hand moisten out drawing a part of their passing(a) routine. This airfield aims to leave behind information on hand- softeninging carriage of people in semi populace public conveniences and the factors that may or may not influence frequency of hand-washing.Baseline schoolingI. Statement of the ProblemEvery peerless knows the benefits of existenceness keen as in hand-washing. However, there be still some who do not wash their proceedingforce aft(prenominal) victimization the catch ones breath board. Are factors that may influence or may be linked with the benignant behavior of handwashing? If so, what are they? Do these factors drive or preclude handwashing behavior?II. scheme StatementIn Smiths study, she used bill as one of the variables due(p) to the Theory of Self-Awareness that states that self-awareness increases adherence to loving norms. Thus, self-awareness of the people due to their k nowledge of some other(prenominal)s reflection them drives them to adhere to the social norm of hand-washing. in that respect is too a link mingled with Gender and Ethnic differences to health-related notions and behaviors (Courtenay, McCreary and Merighi, 2002). There is a high likelihood for men to immerse in riskier health-related behaviors and fewer preventive behaviors in health (Courtenay, McCreary and Merighi, 2002).The Theory of Planned Behavior, which believes that synonymous attitudes toward behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral sway, joined with soulfulnessal responsibility may assure intention, in effect, the behavior of people, is used in justifying the Smiths choice of post as a variable in assessing the likelihood of handwashing. In a infirmary setting, wherein peoples attitudes are cerebrate on the maintenance of sanitary conditions as expected in infirmarys, people reverse more conscious in be more responsible in avocation expected no rms of sanitary habits in the hospital. In such as setting, behavior control in the people to wash their custody is greater whence as compared to other places.III. HypothesisThere are some variables that affect the frequency of handwashing (Smith 2005). These may be observation, gender and situation. There is a higher incidence of hand-washing among participants that know their behavior is being ob comed, are female soulfulnesss and are in a hospital-setting (versus other locations such as schools and the workplace, for example).IV. effect or MethodologyFemale and male percipients, respectively, were situated in both womens and mens informalityrooms in the University of conscientious objector, Colorado Springs (USCCS) campus and hospital, to record the pre-determined participant behaviors and conditions, including handwashing (yes/no), whether the participant could get a line the observer (observed/not observed), gender (male/female), and location (college campus/hospital ) of 179 participants. These were tallied and results were generated.V. ResultsNo significant differences were found in participants who knew that they were being observed and those who did not possess the said knowledge. There were similarly no significant differences between handwashing behavior of males and females, as well as between those who are in the school or hospital setting.VI. DiscussionNone of the hypotheses were supported by the study. Observation, Gender and Location do not play a role in handwashing behavior as there were no significant differences between participants that were found in studying the above-mentioned variables.Behavior adjustmentVII. Statement of the ProblemMay Observation and the Presence of Signages reminding people to wash their transfer influence people to do so? What is the effect of people knowing that they are watched later on they throw off read the signage recommending that they wash their hold after using the restroom?VIII. Theory St atement of Relationship or cause and EffectThe study of Jenner et al. (2002) on predictive behaviors in hand hygienics or washing of hands in hospital health care workers state concludes that reminders such as signages are correlate to the higher tendency of people to wash their hands after they used the rest rooms.With the sp information of various diseases, there is also an increase in public table service announcements by the media, and reminders in all types of institutions to wash their hands. This norm of washing hands as acceptable behavior after using the restroom is displayed with the observers showing approval upon eyesight that a person washed his or her hands, and disapproval when such is not make due to peoples belief in its importance. Such is largely due to efforts by media, the government and various institutions in the communities reminding people of the benefits of washing their hands.IX. HypothesisThis study, presupposes that observation may influence the freq uency of hand-washing, as in Smiths study. Also, the bearing of a signage posted in the public restroom reminding people to wash their hands before they leave the restroom impart also be examined as a factor affecting the incidence of hand-washing.This study give then not notwithstanding support Smiths line that there may be factors that explains Handwashing behavior in humans, but will also extend the point that these variables even work together, influencing people to wash their hands.X. Procedure or MethodologyObservers were situated at a public restroom of a coffee shop right smack in the middle of a shopping mall. The rest room is for both men and women, with a small space that housed a vomit up and a handwashing station prior to the gate leading to the rest room. In the dejeuner time hours, the first ten people who entered the rest room during this time, 7 women and 3 men were randomly selected to be participants in the study. The observers noted handwashing behavior u pon participants reading of the great signage reminding people to wash their hands. Such signage was handily placed in front of the opening which they see upon exiting the rest room and after seeing that there is another person with them in the room observing their actions. Results were then tabulated on the participants washing of hands (yes/no) as reactions to reading the signage and noticing that they are under observation by another person in the room.XI.Results6 out of 10 participants washed their hands straightaway washed their hands upon reading the signage and upon noting the armorial bearing of another person in the area. 3 participants barely noted the presence of the observer (they did not even as much(prenominal) as glance at the observer in the area), but washed their hands after reading the signage. Only one participant left the rest room without washing his hands, even if he has read the signage and knew of the presence of the observer (he had eye middleman wit h the observer prior to leaving the area). The same participant appeared to be in a hurry.XII.DiscussionObservation and the signage reminding people to wash their hands- that are conveniently placed in rest rooms may have an effect on people to wash their hands. Not just do the signage serve as reminders and the presence of an observer provide pressure for a person to wash their hands, the two in combination have effected handwashing behavior in a manner that the person washes his or her hands due to his or her possible dodging of a situation wherein he will receive disapproval, not just because he failed to wash his hands, but because he did not do so after he had already seen the sign telling him of its benefits.This gives the finding that the compulsion to handwashing may not only come from the person knowing and is being reminded of its importance- a community or societal belief, moreover, it is done out of the persons fear of being perceived in a bad light- an idiot, or so meone who blatantly defies commonly held belief. A person herein does not only wash his or her hand not only because he or she believes of its benefits to health, but because he or she did not want to be labeled as the person, who after reading the sign, still does not wash his or her hands- an unintelligent and/or openly difficult person who does not look to understand the importance of handwashing even after he has been amply told.ConclusionThe goal of some(prenominal) professionals who in their studies, have proved the benefits of handwashing, is to get on people to do so after they use the rest rooms. Knowing the factors and judgement how they interrelate would provide the key to formulating solutions to make handwashing become widely practiced so as that they will become the requisite part of the routine of the people. Such must be done because however handwashing would seem basic and simple, doing such has a awful effect- it can even save lives.