Assessing the Impact of Enhanced Handwashing Techniques Using Kirkpatrick's Model

Abstract

Handwashing is a basic yet important habit that has a big impact on public and personal health, especially in school environments. This study aimed to assess the impact of handwashing techniques on students in Medical Technology, Radiologic Technology, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Midwifery, and Nursing at DMC College Foundation, Inc., a La Salle supervised school located in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte in Northwestern Mindanao. The study's respondents are students enrolled in the first semester of 2023–2024 who are officially enrolled in Levels 2–4 of these programs. These levels are frequently exposed to working with patients and materials in hospital and laboratory environments. Objectively, Kirkpatrick's Model was employed in the study where four of its main domains are measured namely, reaction, learning, behavior, and results. Descriptive statistics was utilized with frequency and percentage distribution, means and standard deviation, and ANOVA to treat the data. The results revealed that the design and execution of hand hygiene training programs in medical science education will be significantly impacted by the study's findings. It is advised to modify instructional tactics considering the participants' identified areas of strength and weakness to increase the efficacy of subsequent interventions. Additionally, maintaining beneficial behavioral changes over time requires regular evaluations and continuous reinforcement. This study offers a methodological framework for assessing educational interventions in the larger context of health sciences, in addition to adding to our current understanding of hand hygiene practices. Thus, this study highlights the significance of a thorough evaluation approach by employing Kirkpatrick's Four Stages Evaluation Model. It provides insightful information for educators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals who want to improve hand hygiene practices and reduce the risk of infectious diseases in the educational landscape.