A Comparative Analysis of Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Among Female Medical and Non-medical Students in Peshawar: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Hand hygiene is a fundamental component of infection prevention, control, and patient care. However, it is often perceived as merely a personal hygiene practice, as its wider implications for disease prevention and public health are not comprehended. Hand hygiene is not implemented in an optimal way, both by health professionals and the population. The study aimed to assess and compare the hand hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and non-medical students in Peshawar, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data was collected from female medical and non-medical students in Peshawar by means of a validated questionnaire using convenience sampling and snowball sampling techniques. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: The overall level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of hand hygiene in both groups was good. More medical students associated damaged skin, jewelry, and artificial fingernails with germ colonization, believed in the adequacy of hand washing after environmental exposure, prioritized hand hygiene, and consistently washed their hands after handling garbage and bowel movements. On the other hand, more non-medical students believed that hand washing cleans both hands and food, recognized the protective role of hand cream, washed hands only when visibly dirty, and considered hand washing after coughing, sneezing, or blowing the nose and drying hands after washing necessary. Conclusion: The findings suggest that it is imperative to make targeted interventions, create awareness, and educate the public regarding hand hygiene to effectively improve its compliance. Moreover, additional research is necessary to establish the extent of KAP concerning hand hygiene.