Review the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report: "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," focusing on the following sections: Transforming Practice, Transforming Education, and Transfo

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices are important in eliminating a host of

infections and diseases. WASH includes having access to clean water, sufficient sanitation, and

hygiene education. In developing countries, WASH techniques may be challenging to maintain

due to socioeconomic status or natural disasters that damage infrastructures making it difficult

for individuals to carry out every day tasks. Developed countries, such as the United States, also

has its fair share of challenges in WASH practices such as the water crisis in Flint Michigan.

Handwashing is one of the most important aspects of WASH and handwashing time is the

relevant research issue of this paper. According to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of

the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.1

The use of soap should also be incorporated when hand washing. The 5 steps of handwashing

include wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry.1 Timing of hand washing is also important. The CDC

suggests scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds to reduce the overall numbers of microbes.2,3

The Mayo Clinic also suggests washing hands for at least 20 seconds rubbing hands palm to

palm vigorously (with soap) to prevent infection.4 In a study conducted in Bangladesh on

handwashing, the recommended 20 seconds to wash hands were onerous due to lack of time.5

The decision whether or not to use soap was the premise of the study. The study concluded that

handwashing with water alone can significantly reduce childhood diarrhea.5

In the following research, the purpose of this cross-sectional observational study was to

determine if there was a significant relationship between age and handwashing time. Also to be

determined is whether or not male and female handwashing times differ significantly.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives. CDC website. 2017. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html. Last assessed on June 24, 2018.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When & How to Wash Your Hands. CDC website. 2016. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html. Last assessed on June 24, 2018.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Show Me the Science- How to Wash Your Hands. CDC website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the -science-handwashing.html. Last assessed on June 24, 2018.

4. Mayo Clinic. Handwashing: Do’s and Don’ts. 2018. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in depth/hand-washing/art-20046253. Last assessed on June 24, 2018.

5. Luby SP, Halder AK, Huda T, Unicomb L, Johnston RB. The Effect of Handwashing at Recommended Times with Water Alone and With Soap on Child Diarrhea in Rural Bangladesh: An Observational Study. PLoS Med. 2011; 8(6): e1001052. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001052.