Practice Levels of Hand Washing and Cough Etiquette for the Prevention of Infectious DISEASES

Abstract

The 2017 community health survey data were analyzed to investigate the practice levels of hand washing and cough etiquette that are of use for infectious diseases. The findings of the study were as follows: As for awareness of the prevention of infectious diseases by hand washing, the awareness levels of the urban residents were higher, and the practice levels of hand washing before meals over the past week were higher among the county residents. The practice levels of hand washing after the use of the restroom over the past week were higher in the urban residents, and the frequency of using soap or hand cleaners was higher in the urban residents as well. Concerning experience of hand-washing education and publicity, the urban residents had more experience. The younger respondents had more experience of receiving hand washing education, and the respondents whose income levels were higher had more hand-washing education experience. As to the practice levels of cough etiquette, the practice levels were higher when the income levels were higher. Therefore in order to raise the practice levels of hand washing and cough etiquette, sustained education should be provided in various manners, and the development of educational programs tailored to older people seems to be necessary.