Hygiene Hub

There are four main ways of measuring hygiene behaviour change outcomes:

Structured observation or spot checks at public facilities,

1. Structured observation at households,
2. Household spot-checks,
3. Structured observation or spot checks at public facilities,
4. Self-reported behaviour.

Below we describe how these can be applied to measuring handwashing behaviour and highlight strengths and limitations of each method in general, as well as during the COVID-19 outbreak. These methods can be adapted to measure other preventative behaviours too.

Want to learn more about adapting hygiene project outcome measures for COVID-19 response? 

<a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154918-what-factors-should-organisations-consider-when-deciding-on-data-collection-methods-for-covid-19-response" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">What factors should organisations consider when deciding on data collection methods for COVID-19 response?</a>

<a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154931-should-in-person-data-collection-be-considered-during-the-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Should in-person data collection be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic?</a>

<a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154938-is-it-appropriate-and-safe-to-conduct-structured-observations-of-household-handwashing-behaviour" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Is it appropriate and safe to conduct structured observations of household handwashing behaviour?</a>

<a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154945-is-it-appropriate-and-safe-to-conduct-household-level-spot-checks-of-handwashing-facilities" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Is it appropriate and safe to conduct household level spot checks of handwashing facilities?</a>

<a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154953-is-it-appropriate-and-safe-to-conduct-structured-observations-and-spot-checks-at-public-facilities" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Is it appropriate and safe to conduct structured observations and spot checks at public facilities?</a>

<a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154959-what-are-the-benefits-and-limitations-of-using-self-reported-handwashing-outcome-measures" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">What are the benefits and limitations of using self-reported handwashing outcome measures?</a>

<a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154964-decision-tree-how-to-choose-between-household-observations-spot-checks-and-self-reported-behaviour-outcome-measures" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Decision Tree - How to choose between household observations, spot-checks and self-reported behaviour outcome measures?</a>

- <a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154918-what-factors-should-organisations-consider-when-deciding-on-data-collection-methods-for-covid-19-response" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">What factors should organisations consider when deciding on data collection methods for COVID-19 response?</a>
- <a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154931-should-in-person-data-collection-be-considered-during-the-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Should in-person data collection be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic?</a>
- <a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154938-is-it-appropriate-and-safe-to-conduct-structured-observations-of-household-handwashing-behaviour" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Is it appropriate and safe to conduct structured observations of household handwashing behaviour?</a>
- <a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154945-is-it-appropriate-and-safe-to-conduct-household-level-spot-checks-of-handwashing-facilities" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Is it appropriate and safe to conduct household level spot checks of handwashing facilities?</a>
- <a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154953-is-it-appropriate-and-safe-to-conduct-structured-observations-and-spot-checks-at-public-facilities" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Is it appropriate and safe to conduct structured observations and spot checks at public facilities?</a>
- <a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154959-what-are-the-benefits-and-limitations-of-using-self-reported-handwashing-outcome-measures" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">What are the benefits and limitations of using self-reported handwashing outcome measures?</a>
- <a href="https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154964-decision-tree-how-to-choose-between-household-observations-spot-checks-and-self-reported-behaviour-outcome-measures" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Decision Tree - How to choose between household observations, spot-checks and self-reported behaviour outcome measures?</a>

Editor's Note Authors: <a href="https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/majorin.fiona" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Fiona Majorin</a> and <a href="https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/watson.julie" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Julie Watson</a> Review: Deepak Saxena, <a href="https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/greenland.katie" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Katie Greenland</a>, <a href="https://www.eawag.ch/en/aboutus/portrait/organisation/staff/profile/hans-joachim-mosler/show/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hans Mosle</a>r, Dr Robina Shaheen Last update: 11.06.2020

How should organisations decide on appropriate and safe methods to assess hygiene behaviour outcomes?