Handwashing and disinfection precautions taken by U.S. adults to prevent coronavirus disease 2019, Spring 2020

BMC Res Notes. 2020 Dec 4;13(1):550. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05398-3.

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess self-reported hygiene precautions taken by U.S. adults during spring 2020 to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to identify demographic characteristics associated with these hygiene precautions.

Results: We obtained data from Porter Novelli Public Services's national survey, Spring ConsumerStyles, conducted March 19-April 9, 2020 among a nationally representative random sample of 6463 U.S. adults aged 18 years or older. We present data from the survey question: "What, if any, precautions are you taking to prevent coronavirus?". Respondents replied yes or no to the following precautions: washing hands often with soap and water and disinfecting surfaces at home and work often. Most respondents reported taking hygiene-related precautions to prevent COVID-19; more respondents reported handwashing (93%) than disinfecting surfaces (74%). Men, younger respondents, those with lower income and education levels, and respondents in self-rated poor health had lower reported rates of both handwashing and disinfecting surfaces. Communications about hygiene precautions for COVID-19 prevention may need to target sub-populations with the greatest gaps in hygiene-related practices. Research identifying barriers to these practices and developing effective messaging could inform and improve these communications.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Demographic differences; Handwashing; Surface disinfection.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Disinfection* / methods
  • Disinfection* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Hand Disinfection* / methods
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Poverty
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult