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Handwashing lessons keep kids in school, study finds
NCT ID NCT07467902
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether teaching hand and respiratory hygiene to primary school children could lower how often they get sick and miss school. Over 800 students in Erbil, Iraq, took part. Some schools got hygiene lessons and reminders, while others did not. The goal was to see if a simple, low-cost program could prevent common respiratory and stomach illnesses.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- hand hygiene education program
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show that simple handwashing lessons in schools can cut down on common illnesses and missed school days.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study, but results may not apply to all settings. The intervention relies on children following instructions, which can vary.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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802 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Finished
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Jun 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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9 to 13 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * The study population comprised 802 students from twelve randomly selected public primary schools in Erbil, Iraq. Eligible participants were children enrolled in grades four to six (aged 9-13 years) attending public schools within Erbil city center. All students in the selected schools were invited to participate. Written informed consent was obtained from parents or guardians, and verbal agreement was provided by the children prior to enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: * Exclusion criteria included students attending private, evening, or special schools (e.g., for children with disabilities), as well as those with chronic medical conditions likely to influence school attendance. Bilingual schools (English-Arabic) were excluded to maintain comparability in the educational environment.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Hawler Medical University/College of nursing
Erbil, Erbil Governorate, 44001, Iraq
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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