Implementing Hand Hygiene Programs into the K-12 Education Curriculum to Decrease the Incidence of Respiratory Illnesses

Implementing Hand Hygiene Programs into the K-12 Education Curriculum to Decrease the Incidence of Respiratory Illnesses

Poster - Theoretical Proposal

Pediatric patients are hospitalized for a variety of reasons, one of the most common reasons for hospitalization is to assess, monitor, and treat communicable diseases. The most common communicable diseases that are seen among the pediatric population are respiratory illnesses including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, and streptococcal pharyngitis. From October of 2022 to April of 2023, 2,762 children were hospitalized for influenza alone. In addition, research has shown that these illnesses play a large role in chronic absenteeism among school-aged children. Approximately 5 to 7.5 million children are chronically absent from school, which indicates that they miss at least 15 school days each year. There is a direct relationship between school-aged children’s health and school attendance. The number of children impacted is highly alarming, presenting a public health call to action. There is a need for healthcare professionals to educate children on the importance of proper hand hygiene. When hand hygiene is done effectively, it is the primary preventative measure of disease control. The most opportune setting for hand hygiene education is the classroom. There is a pressing call to action to make children aware of the significance of germ transmission, alongside proper handwashing. Answering this call will decrease respiratory illness outbreaks and chronic absenteeism among school-aged children.