Jerusalem Handwashing Study

A Controlled Trial to Assess the Effect of a Health Promotion Intervention on Hygiene Behavior and Illness Absenteeism in Jerusalem Preschools

The primary objective of this preschool intervention trial was to determine whether a hygiene program can promote handwashing and thereby reduce illness absenteeism.

Please see citations of published reports.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Preschool teachers of 3- and 4-year-old children in the state-run public system of the Jerusalem region, who were recommended by their supervisors as being likely to comply with the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exposure to project during testing phase (N=1 preschool), preschool which included new Ethiopian immigrants who were unlikely to have phones or speak Hebrew (N=1 preschool)
• Project staff knew teachers personally and thought they would not comply with protocol (N=2 teachers).