Nudging Handwashing: a Cluster-randomized Trial in Bangladesh

NCT ID: NCT02703974

Last Updated: 2016-11-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-03-31

Study Completion Date

2016-08-31

Brief Summary

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The study will collect and analyze quantitative data regarding handwashing behaviors among school-aged children to determine the impact of nudges compared to handwashing and hygiene education programs.

Based on the success of the preliminary pilot, we hypothesize nudges leading to higher rates of handwashing than traditional handwashing and hygiene education programs.

Detailed Description

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This study will utilize a cluster-randomized trial design to collect quantitative data and analyze the handwashing behaviors of school-aged children.

The primary purpose of this protocol is to assess nudges as a viable method of promoting handwashing among school-aged children.

The specific objectives of this quantitative exploration are to:

1. Determine if nudges can prompt significant behavior change and result in higher rates of handwashing among school-aged children in Bangladesh
2. Determine if behavior change resulting from nudging is sustainable over time

Conditions

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Hand Disinfection

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Early handwashing station + nudge

This arm will include 5 randomly selected schools that will have had handwashing stations built after the baseline observation (Phase I), and nudges built after Phase II data collection.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Early handwashing station

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A handwashing station will be a dedicated location for handwashing in each selected school and will include:

1. A raised concrete platform (built to child height)
2. A plastic container with a lid and spigot
3. Soap

The early handwashing stations will be constructed in weeks 1 and 2 of the study, after the baseline observations (Phase I) are complete.

Nudge

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A nudge will be built in each randomly selected school and will consist of:

1. Connecting latrines to the handwashing station via paved pathways that are painted bright colors
2. Painting footprints on infrastructure guiding students to the handwashing stations and handprints on stations

The nudges will be constructed at the end of week 3 and 4, after Phase II data collection is complete within each randomly assigned nudge school.

Late handwashing station + nudge

This arm will include 5 randomly selected schools that will have had handwashing stations and nudges built at the same time, after Phase II data collection.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Late handwashing station

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A handwashing station will be a dedicated location for handwashing in each selected school and will include:

1. A raised concrete platform (built to child height)
2. A plastic container with a lid and spigot
3. Soap

The late handwashing stations construction will begin after Phase 2 data collection has been finished at the end of week 3.

Nudge

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A nudge will be built in each randomly selected school and will consist of:

1. Connecting latrines to the handwashing station via paved pathways that are painted bright colors
2. Painting footprints on infrastructure guiding students to the handwashing stations and handprints on stations

The nudges will be constructed at the end of week 3 and 4, after Phase II data collection is complete within each randomly assigned nudge school.

Early handwashing station + education

This arm will include 5 randomly selected schools that will have had handwashing stations built after the baseline observation (Phase I), and will receive a Hand hygiene education-based program, after Phase II data collection is complete.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Early handwashing station

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A handwashing station will be a dedicated location for handwashing in each selected school and will include:

1. A raised concrete platform (built to child height)
2. A plastic container with a lid and spigot
3. Soap

The early handwashing stations will be constructed in weeks 1 and 2 of the study, after the baseline observations (Phase I) are complete.

Education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Hand hygiene education-based program: the hygiene promotion element will include a one month program of handwashing education involving weekly facilitator led sessions. Each session will be about 30-45 minutes long, and will cover the following topics:

* Importance of handwashing
* Method of handwashing
* Critical times of handwashing
* Finding solutions for handwashing in school and at home The sessions will involve use of flipcharts, and other IEC materials (e.g. videos) and participative learning methods.

The Hand hygiene education-based program will begin at the beginning of weeks 4 and 5, after Phase II data collection is complete in each randomly assigned education school.

Late handwashing station + education

This arm will include 5 randomly selected schools that will have had handwashing stations built after Phase II data collection is complete, when the Hand hygiene education-based program will commence.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Late handwashing station

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A handwashing station will be a dedicated location for handwashing in each selected school and will include:

1. A raised concrete platform (built to child height)
2. A plastic container with a lid and spigot
3. Soap

The late handwashing stations construction will begin after Phase 2 data collection has been finished at the end of week 3.

Education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Hand hygiene education-based program: the hygiene promotion element will include a one month program of handwashing education involving weekly facilitator led sessions. Each session will be about 30-45 minutes long, and will cover the following topics:

* Importance of handwashing
* Method of handwashing
* Critical times of handwashing
* Finding solutions for handwashing in school and at home The sessions will involve use of flipcharts, and other IEC materials (e.g. videos) and participative learning methods.

The Hand hygiene education-based program will begin at the beginning of weeks 4 and 5, after Phase II data collection is complete in each randomly assigned education school.

Interventions

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Early handwashing station

A handwashing station will be a dedicated location for handwashing in each selected school and will include:

1. A raised concrete platform (built to child height)
2. A plastic container with a lid and spigot
3. Soap

The early handwashing stations will be constructed in weeks 1 and 2 of the study, after the baseline observations (Phase I) are complete.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Late handwashing station

A handwashing station will be a dedicated location for handwashing in each selected school and will include:

1. A raised concrete platform (built to child height)
2. A plastic container with a lid and spigot
3. Soap

The late handwashing stations construction will begin after Phase 2 data collection has been finished at the end of week 3.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Nudge

A nudge will be built in each randomly selected school and will consist of:

1. Connecting latrines to the handwashing station via paved pathways that are painted bright colors
2. Painting footprints on infrastructure guiding students to the handwashing stations and handprints on stations

The nudges will be constructed at the end of week 3 and 4, after Phase II data collection is complete within each randomly assigned nudge school.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Education

Hand hygiene education-based program: the hygiene promotion element will include a one month program of handwashing education involving weekly facilitator led sessions. Each session will be about 30-45 minutes long, and will cover the following topics:

* Importance of handwashing
* Method of handwashing
* Critical times of handwashing
* Finding solutions for handwashing in school and at home The sessions will involve use of flipcharts, and other IEC materials (e.g. videos) and participative learning methods.

The Hand hygiene education-based program will begin at the beginning of weeks 4 and 5, after Phase II data collection is complete in each randomly assigned education school.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. No hygiene education programs in the last two years
2. No handwashing stations or facilities on school grounds
3. Improved sanitation/toilets facilities (latrines)
4. Water supply on site or within 3-6 meters of the school
5. A school population between 125-450 students, and
6. A government primary school (all co-ed)
7. Willingness of the school principle / head teacher and a representative of the School Management Committee (SMC) to participate in the proposed research

Exclusion Criteria

1. Located outside of Dhunat, Gurudaspur and Boraigram Upazilla (sub districts) of Bogra and Natore districts of Rajshahi Division
2. Have had a hygiene education program in the last two years
3. Already has handwashing stations or facilities on school grounds
4. Does not have improved sanitation/toilets facilities (latrines)
5. Does not have water supply on site or within 3-6 meters of the school
6. Has a school population under 125 or over 450 students
7. Is not a government primary school or is not co-ed
8. School principle / head teacher or representative of the School Management Committee (SMC) is not willing to participate in the proposed research
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Save the Children

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University at Buffalo

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Oklahoma

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Kamal Hossain

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Save the Children

Mohini Venkatesh

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Save the Children

Pavani K Ram, MD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University at Buffalo

Elise N Grover, MSPH

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Oklahoma

Robert Dreibelbis, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Oklahoma

Locations

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Save the Children

Dhaka, , Bangladesh

Site Status

Countries

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Bangladesh

Other Identifiers

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6304

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id