Table 2 Questionnaire on handwashing knowledge (K), attitudes (A), and practices (P) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia (n = 1323).
Variable | Responses | Determination/score | N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
K1: What is the best HW method to prevent coronavirus? | HW with water only/hand sanitizer | Incorrect/0 | 73( 6) |
HW with soap and water | Correct/1 | 1250 (94) | |
K2: What is the minimum time period for HW with soap and water to prevent coronavirus? | 5 s/10 s/I don’t know | Incorrect/0 | 348 (26) |
40 s | Correct/1 | 975 (74) | |
K3: What is the lowest alcohol concentration in hand sanitizer that prevents coronavirus? | 30%/40%/50%/I don’t know | Incorrect/0 | 921 (70) |
60% | Correct/1 | 402 (30) | |
K4: Is using warm water necessary and important during HW to prevent coronavirus? | Yes/I don’t know | Incorrect/0 | 556 (42) |
No | Correct/1 | 767 (58) | |
K5/6: What are the modes of transmission of coronavirus? | K5: touch-contaminated surfaces (yes) | Correct/1 | 1061 (80) |
K6: droplets during sneezing, talking (yes) | Correct/1 | 1150 (87) | |
K7: Have you seen a video explaining the proper method of HW in the last 3 months? | Yes | Correct/1 | 1185 (90) |
No | Incorrect/0 | 138 (10) | |
A1: Do you think that you are vulnerable to infection with coronavirus? | Yes | Positive/1 | 559 (42) |
Maybe/No | Negative/0 | 764 (58) | |
A2: Do you think that HW with soap and water reduces the possibility of coronavirus infection? | Yes | Positive/1 | 1230 (93) |
Maybe/No | Negative/0 | 93 (7) | |
A3: Do you think that, while wearing gloves, you should not touch your face? | Yes | Positive/1 | 1267 (96) |
Maybe/no | Negative/0 | 56 (4) | |
A4: Do you hesitate to direct your family members to wash their hands with soap and water when needed, such as when returning from public places? | No | Positive/1 | 625 (47) |
Maybe/yes | Negative/0 | 698 (53) | |
Technique of HW with soap and water | |||
P1: Do you wash the insides and the backs of your hands? | Always | Correct/1 | 1148 (87) |
Sometimes/never | Incorrect/0 | 175 (13) | |
P2: Do you wash between your fingers? | Always | Correct/1 | 1062 (80) |
Sometimes/never | Incorrect/0 | 261 (20) | |
P3: Do you wash your wrists? | Always | Correct/1 | 836 (63) |
Sometimes/never | Incorrect/0 | 487 (37) | |
P4: Do you wash your fingertips? | Always | Correct/1 | 1097 (83) |
Sometimes/never | Incorrect/0 | 226 (17) | |
P5: Do you wash your thumbs? | Always | Correct/1 | 1049 (79) |
Sometimes/never | Incorrect/0 | 274 (21) | |
P6: Do you wash under your nails? | Always | Correct/1 | 639 (48) |
Sometimes/never | Incorrect/0 | 684 (52) | |
P7: Do you dry your hands with a clean towel after washing them? | Always | Correct/1 | 838 (63) |
Sometimes/never | Incorrect/0 | 785 (37) | |
Duration of the entire procedure | |||
P8: How long do you wash your hands with soap and water? | Less than 40 s/I don’t know | Incorrect/0 | 686 (52) |
40–60 s | Correct/1 | 637 (48) | |
Frequency of HW per day | |||
P9: How many times do you wash your hands each day with soap and water? | |||
Ten times or less | Incorrect/0 | 962 (73) | |
More than ten times | Correct/1 | 361 (27) | |
Key times to wash hands | |||
P10–13: At which times do you wash your hands with soap and water? | P10: after visiting public places (yes) | Correct/1 | 1249 (94) |
P11: after touching any high-touch surfaces outside the house (yes) | Correct/1 | 1077 (81) | |
P12: after removing gloves (yes) | Correct/1 | 1004 (76) | |
P13: after removing a mask (yes) | Correct/1 | 854 (65) | |
