Effect of Digital Method-Based Hand Hygiene Education on Handwashing Skills in Primary School Students

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a digitally based hand hygiene education program developed for primary school students on their proper handwashing skills. School-age children are a vulnerable group with regard to infectious diseases, and hygiene behaviors acquired during this period have long-term significance for both individual and public health. Research has shown that primary school students often lack sufficient knowledge and skills regarding personal hygiene and handwashing, highlighting the need for the planning and implementation of hygiene education programs for children. Although hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective methods for preventing the transmission of infections, children frequently do not perform it using the correct technique. The literature indicates that educational interventions significantly improve primary school students' knowledge and skills related to hand hygiene. However, studies examining the effectiveness of digitally designed educational interventions remain limited, which constitutes the primary motivation for this research. The visual, interactive, gamified, and repeatable features of digital content support students' active engagement in the learning process and enhance learning effectiveness. This study designs a digital-method-based educational intervention aimed at improving students' proper handwashing skills. Initially, the hand hygiene skills of students in both groups will be assessed using the Semmelweis Hand Hygiene Scanner, an objective measurement device that analyzes hand-rubbing techniques during handwashing and provides visual and percentage-based feedback. Subsequently, students' knowledge levels will be assessed through an interactive game. While offering an enjoyable experience for children, the game will simultaneously enable the evaluation of their hand hygiene knowledge. At this stage, no educational intervention will be provided to the control group, whereas students in th