Factors Related to Food Worker Hand Hygiene Practices†

2007 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURA R. GREEN ◽  
VINCENT RADKE ◽  
RYAN MASON ◽  
LISA BUSHNELL ◽  
DAVID W. REIMANN ◽  
...  

To identify factors related to food worker hand hygiene practices, we collected (i) observational data on food worker (n = 321) hand hygiene practices (hand washing and glove use) and (ii) observational and interview data on factors related to hygiene behavior, such as worker activity, restaurant characteristics, worker food safety training, and the physical and social environment. Results indicated that hand washing and glove use were more likely to occur in conjunction with food preparation than with other activities (e.g., handling dirty equipment) and when workers were not busy. Hand washing was more likely to occur in restaurants whose food workers received food safety training, with more than one hand sink, and with a hand sink in the observed worker's sight. Glove use was more likely to occur in chain restaurants and in restaurants with glove supplies in food preparation areas. Hand washing and glove use were also related to each other—hand washing was less likely to occur with activities in which gloves were worn. These findings indicate that a number of factors are related to hand hygiene practices and support suggestions that food worker hand hygiene improvement requires more than food safety education. Instead, improvement programs must be multidimensional and address factors such as those examined in this study.

2012 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 793-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAN MEI SOON ◽  
RICHARD BAINES ◽  
PHILLIP SEAMAN

Research has shown that traditional food safety training programs and strategies to promote hand hygiene increases knowledge of the subject. However, very few studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of food safety training on food handlers' attitudes about good hand hygiene practices. The objective of this meta-analytical study was to assess the extent to which food safety training or intervention strategies increased knowledge of and attitudes about hand hygiene. A systematic review of food safety training articles was conducted. Additional studies were identified from abstracts from food safety conferences and food science education conferences. Search terms included combinations of “food safety,” “food hygiene,” “training,” “education,” “hand washing,” “hand hygiene,” “knowledge,” “attitudes,” “practices,” “behavior,” and “food handlers.” Only before- and after-training approaches and cohort studies with training (intervention group) and without training (control group) in hand hygiene knowledge and including attitudes in food handlers were evaluated. All pooled analyses were based on a random effects model. Meta-analysis values for nine food safety training and intervention studies on hand hygiene knowledge among food handlers were significantly higher than those of the control (without training), with an effect size (Hedges' g) of 1.284 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.830 to 1.738). Meta-analysis of five food safety training and intervention studies in which hand hygiene attitudes and self-reported practices were monitored produced a summary effect size of 0.683 (95% CI = 0.523 to 0.843). Food safety training increased knowledge and improved attitudes about hand hygiene practices. Refresher training and long-term reinforcement of good food handling behaviors may also be beneficial for sustaining good hand washing practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Sena Tuglo ◽  
Percival Delali Agordoh ◽  
David Tekpor ◽  
Zhongqin Pan ◽  
Gabriel Agbanyo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Food safety and hygiene are currently a global health apprehension especially in unindustrialized countries as a result of increasing food-borne diseases (FBDs) and accompanying deaths. This study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitude, and hygiene practices (KAP) of food safety among street-cooked food handlers (SCFHs) in North Dayi District, Ghana. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 407 SCFHs in North Dayi District, Ghana. The World Health Organization’s Five Keys to Safer Food for food handlers and a pretested structured questionnaire were adapted for data collection among stationary SCFHs along principal streets. Significant parameters such as educational status, average monthly income, registered SCFHs, and food safety training course were used in bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models to calculate the power of the relationships observed. Results The majority 84.3% of SCFHs were female and 56.0% had not attended a food safety training course. This study showed that 67.3%, 58.2%, and 62.9% of SCFHs had good levels of KAP of food safety, respectively. About 87.2% showed a good attitude of separating uncooked and prepared meal before storage. Good knowledge of food safety was 2 times higher among registered SCFHs compared to unregistered [cOR=1.64, p=0.032]. SCFHs with secondary education were 4 times good at hygiene practices of food safety likened to no education [aOR=4.06, p=0.003]. Above GHc1500 average monthly income earners were 5 times good at hygiene practices of food safety compared to below GHc500 [aOR=4.89, p=0.006]. Registered SCFHs were 8 times good at hygiene practice of food safety compared to unregistered [aOR=7.50, p<0.001]. The odd for good hygiene practice of food safety was 6 times found among SCFHs who had training on food safety courses likened to those who had not [aOR=5.97, p<0.001]. Conclusions Over half of the SCFHs had good levels of KAP of food safety. Registering as SCFH was significantly associated with good knowledge and hygiene practices of food safety. Therefore, our results may present an imperative foundation for design to increase food safety and hygiene practice in the district, region, and beyond.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863022096041
Author(s):  
Kingsley E Amegah ◽  
Henry O Addo ◽  
Mary E Ashinyo ◽  
Loveland Fiagbe ◽  
Serene Akpanya ◽  
...  

Introduction: Food handlers’ hands serve as a vehicle for potential foodborne pathogenic contamination which constitutes a public health risk. In Ghana, there are always constant reports of outbreaks of foodborne diseases in schools. However, determinants of hand hygiene practice among educational institutions food handlers are little known. The study, therefore, aimed to assess the determinants of hand hygiene practice at critical times among educational institutions’ food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Ghana. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey among educational institutions food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Two hundred and six food handlers were selected through convenience sampling in the educational institutions. At the same time, structured questions that were developed from previous studies were used to assess food handlers’ hand hygiene practice at critical times. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. All variables with their respective confidence intervals (95%) and adjusted odds ratios were declared significant at P-values less than .05. Results: Hand hygiene practice at critical times among the food handlers were relatively good at a rating of 66.0% (95% CI: 59.1, 72.5%). Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was less likely among food handlers with no food safety training (AOR 0.04; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.41) and food handlers who had insufficient knowledge of hand hygiene (AOR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01, 0.25). Good hygiene practice at critical times was 99% lower in food handlers with a negative attitude as compared to food handlers with positive attitudes towards hand hygiene at critical times (AOR 0.01; 95% CI 0.00, 0.07). Only 17.0% of the food handlers demonstrated proper handwashing techniques, whereas a good number (85.4%) of the food handlers did not wash their hands after touching money. Conclusion: Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was relatively good. Food safety training, knowledge of hand hygiene and attitudes towards hand hygiene were independent predictors of hand hygiene practice at critical times. Concerned stakeholders and organizations should focus on WASH interventions that seek to improve educational institutions food handlers’ knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene, coupled with training on food safety.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
WAFAA MENAWI ◽  
Nada Maher Saeeri ◽  
Maimona Jalal Quzmar ◽  
Noor Baker Abu Hijleeh ◽  
Hala Salah Alden Antar ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Personal hygiene is important in maintaining food quality and health safety, so the low level of personal hygiene causes contamination leading to food spoilage and the occurrence of sick cases for consumers.Objective: This study was conducted under the Corona pandemic to verify food safety in Nablus old restaurants, Palestine, in the year 2021.Research methodology: This study covered 32 restaurants and 160 employees randomly selected. Data collection began between April and June in 2021 using 160 questionnaires that included 20 questions were answered by workers in these restaurants.Results: Contamination with coliform bacteria was found in the restaurant samples with a percentage (42.5%), where the samples have taken from the tables having the highest contamination of this bacterium (50%). Furthermore, the data revealed that there was a relationship between coliform bacteria contamination and age, educational level, and food safety training, as the contamination being seen in the group that got the training, In contrast to those who didn't at the P-value <0.20.Conclusion: There was an association of bacterial contamination with age, especially among the younger group who were less concerned with hygiene and food safety practices compared to the elderly group. And it turns out that restaurant workers must be properly trained in food safety and monitored regularly.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingsley E. Amegah ◽  
Henry O. Addo ◽  
Mary E. Ashinyo ◽  
Loveland Fiagbe ◽  
Serene Akpanya ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Food handlers’ hands serve as a vehicle for potential foodborne pathogenic contamination which constitutes a public health risk. In Ghana, there are always constant reports of outbreaks of foodborne diseases in schools. However, determinants of hand hygiene practice among educational institutions food handlers are little known. The study, therefore, aimed to assess the determinants of hand hygiene practice at critical times among educational institutions’ food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Ghana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey among educational institutions food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Two hundred and six food handlers were selected through convenience sampling in the educational institutions. At the same time, structured questions that were developed from previous studies were used to assess food handlers’ hand hygiene practice at critical times. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. All variables with their respective confidence intervals (95%) and adjusted odds ratios were declared significant at P-values less than .05.Results: Hand hygiene practice at critical times among the food handlers were relatively good at a rating of 66.0% (95% CI: 59.1, 72.5%). Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was less likely among food handlers with no food safety training (AOR 0.04; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.41) and food handlers who had insufficient knowledge of hand hygiene (AOR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01, 0.25). Good hygiene practice at critical times was 99% lower in food handlers with a negative attitude as compared to food handlers with positive attitudes towards hand hygiene at critical times (AOR 0.01; 95% CI 0.00, 0.07). Only 17.0% of the food handlers demonstrated proper handwashing techniques, whereas a good number (85.4%) of the food handlers did not wash their hands after touching money. Conclusion: Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was relatively good. Food safety training, knowledge of hand hygiene and attitudes towards hand hygiene were independent predictors of hand hygiene practice at critical times. Concerned stakeholders and organizations should focus on WASH interventions that seek to improve educational institutions food handlers’ knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene, coupled with training on food safety.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingsley E. Amegah ◽  
Henry O. Addo ◽  
Mary E. Ashinyo ◽  
Loveland Fiagbe ◽  
Serene Akpanya ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Food handlers’ hands serve as a vehicle for potential foodborne pathogenic contamination which constitutes a public health risk. In Ghana, there are always constant reports of outbreaks of foodborne diseases in schools. However, determinants of hand hygiene practice among educational institutions food handlers are little known. The study, therefore, aimed to assess the determinants of hand hygiene practice at critical times among educational institutions’ food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Ghana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey among educational institutions food handlers in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Two hundred and six food handlers were selected through convenience sampling in the educational institutions. At the same time, structured questions that were developed from previous studies were used to assess food handlers’ hand hygiene practice at critical times. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. All variables with their respective confidence intervals (95%) and adjusted odds ratios were declared significant at P-values less than .05.Results: Hand hygiene practice at critical times among the food handlers were relatively good at a rating of 66.0% (95% CI: 59.1, 72.5%). Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was less likely among food handlers with no food safety training (AOR 0.04; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.41) and food handlers who had insufficient knowledge of hand hygiene (AOR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01, 0.25). Good hygiene practice at critical times was 99% lower in food handlers with a negative attitude as compared to food handlers with positive attitudes towards hand hygiene at critical times (AOR 0.01; 95% CI 0.00, 0.07). Only 17.0% of the food handlers demonstrated proper handwashing techniques, whereas a good number (85.4%) of the food handlers did not wash their hands after touching money. Conclusion: Good hand hygiene practice at critical times was relatively good. Food safety training, knowledge of hand hygiene and attitudes towards hand hygiene were independent predictors of hand hygiene practice at critical times. Concerned stakeholders and organizations should focus on WASH interventions that seek to improve educational institutions food handlers’ knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene, coupled with training on food safety.


2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 1220-1226 ◽  
Author(s):  
JEFFREY CLARK ◽  
PHIL CRANDALL ◽  
JESSICA SHABATURA

ABSTRACT Food safety training does not always result in behavior change, perhaps because of flaws inherent in traditional training designs. New technologies such as augmented reality headsets or head-mounted action cameras could transform the way food safety training is conducted in the food industry. Training conducted with wearable technology presents visual content in the first-person or actor's perspective, as opposed to the traditional third-person or observer perspective. This visual hands-on first-person perspective may provide an effective way of conveying information and encouraging behavior execution because it uses the mirror neuron system. There is little published literature about the impact of perspective on food safety training outcomes, such as motivation. The present study included a repeated-measures design to determine how first- and third-person camera angles affected hand washing training reactions among 108 currently employed restaurant food handlers. Participants were assessed on their posttraining compliance intentions, compliance self-efficacy, perceived utility of the training, overall satisfaction with the training, and video perspective preference. A significant proportion of food handlers (64%) preferred the first-person video perspective (z = 5.00, P &lt; 0.001), and a significant correlation was found between compliance intentions and compliance self-efficacy (r(108) = 0.361, P &lt; 0.001) for the first-person video. No significant differences in video preference were found for demographic variables, including age (χ2 (2, n = 104) = 1.69, P = 0.430), which suggests that the first-person training format appeals to a diverse workforce. These findings support the application of wearable technology to enhance hand washing training outcomes across a wide range of demographic groups. This research lays the framework for future studies to assess the impact of instructional design on compliance concerning hand washing and other food handling behaviors.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Van Andaya Aquino ◽  
Tyron Yap ◽  
Jean Paolo Gomez Lacap ◽  
Gertrude Tuazon ◽  
Maribel Flores

PurposeThe study examines the interrelationships of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices, and the moderating effect of food safety training on the said interrelationships.Design/methodology/approachPredictive-causal was the primary research design used and partial least squares – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was the statistical technique applied.FindingsResults showed that food safety knowledge significantly and positively influences attitudes towards food safety. It was further revealed that attitudes toward food safety and food safety practices are also significantly and positively related. Moderation analysis indicated that food safety training moderates the significant and positive relationship between attitudes towards food safety and food safety practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study has limitations. First, the unit of analysis is focused on food handlers in fast-food restaurants in Angeles City, Philippines. Other researchers may come up with similar studies on a larger scale – provincial, regional or national. Second, only food safety training as a construct was used as a moderator on the hypothesized relationships of the structural model. Other studies may expand and explore other moderating variables and/or mediating constructs that may affect the said hypothesized relationships.Practical implicationsBased on the present study, food safety knowledge was found to have a huge significant and direct influence on attitudes of fast-food restaurant food handlers towards food safety, as evidenced by the computed effect size. In short, knowledge on food safety is an integral factor when it comes to enhancing food safety attitudes of fast-food restaurant food handlers. When fast-food restaurant food handlers are well-equipped with the right food safety knowledge, they become more aware of the different food safety protocols and other pertinent food safety guidelines and procedures which can lead to favorable food safety attitudes.Social implicationsThe present study highlighted the moderating effect of food safety training on the relationship between attitudes toward food safety and food safety practices. Therefore, regular attendance of food handlers to food safety training is crucial in developing acceptable attitudes toward food safety, which in turn, favorably affect their food safety practices in fast-food restaurants.Originality/valueThe current study utilized PLS-SEM, a second-generation statistical technique, to measure the hypothesized relationships as compared to correlation tests performed by prior studies on the interrelationships of food safety knowledge, attitudes toward food safety and food safety practices. PLS-SEM is suitable for this type of research design – predictive-causal – since this study involves model development and prediction. Furthermore, it employed moderation analysis to measure the moderating effects of food safety training on the identified hypothesized relationships of the structural model. Hence, methodologically, the present study employed new ways and insights in measuring the interrelationships of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document