HYGIENE PRACTICES AMONG HOSPITAL FOOD HANDLERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AT D. Y. PATIL MEDICAL COLLEGE, KOLHAPUR
Main Article Content
Keywords
Food handlers, Personal hygiene, Food safety, Hospital settings
Abstract
Background: Food handlers in hospital settings play a crucial role in maintaining food safety and preventing foodborne illnesses. This study aimed to assess the personal hygiene practices of food handlers at D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, to identify adherence levels to hygiene standards and areas for potential improvement.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling method to ensure representation from various job categories of food handlers. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was employed to gather data on demographic information, food handling practices, knowledge about foodborne illnesses, personal hygiene habits, and attitudes toward food safety. The questionnaire was validated through a pilot study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests to explore associations between demographic variables and hygiene practices.
Results: The study found high compliance rates for key hygiene practices, such as hand washing after defecation (86%) and regular bathing (93%). However, only 53% of food handlers used protective gear consistently. No significant associations were found between hygiene practices and demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, and marital status. Hygiene training, although not statistically significant, was associated with better hygiene practices.
Conclusion: While the overall personal hygiene practices among food handlers were commendable, areas such as the use of protective gear and enforcement of non-tobacco use policies need improvement. Continuous training programs and regular monitoring are recommended to enhance food safety practices. Limitations of the study include reliance on self-reported data and the cross-sectional design, which restricts causality inferences.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling method to ensure representation from various job categories of food handlers. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was employed to gather data on demographic information, food handling practices, knowledge about foodborne illnesses, personal hygiene habits, and attitudes toward food safety. The questionnaire was validated through a pilot study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests to explore associations between demographic variables and hygiene practices.
Results: The study found high compliance rates for key hygiene practices, such as hand washing after defecation (86%) and regular bathing (93%). However, only 53% of food handlers used protective gear consistently. No significant associations were found between hygiene practices and demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, and marital status. Hygiene training, although not statistically significant, was associated with better hygiene practices.
Conclusion: While the overall personal hygiene practices among food handlers were commendable, areas such as the use of protective gear and enforcement of non-tobacco use policies need improvement. Continuous training programs and regular monitoring are recommended to enhance food safety practices. Limitations of the study include reliance on self-reported data and the cross-sectional design, which restricts causality inferences.
References
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4. Adikari, A., Rizana, M., & Amarasekara, T. (2016). Food safety practices in a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. Procedia Food Science, 6, 65-67.
5. Ayçiçek, H., Aydoğan, H., Küçükkaraaslan, A., Baysallar, M., & Basustaoglu, A. (2004). Assessment of the bacterial contamination on hands of hospital food handlers. Food Control, 15, 253-259.
6. Campos, A. K., Cardonha, Â. M. S., Pinheiro, L. B. G., Ferreira, N. R., Azevedo, P. R., & Stamford, T. M. (2009). Assessment of personal hygiene and practices of food handlers in municipal public schools of Natal, Brazil. Food Control, 20, 807-810.
7. Mukhopadhyay, P., Joardar, G., Bag, K., Samanta, A., Sain, S., & Koley, S. (2012). Identifying key risk behaviors regarding personal hygiene and food safety practices of food handlers working in eating establishments located within a hospital campus in Kolkata. Journal of the Medical Sciences, 5, 21-28.
8. Bou-Mitri, C., Mahmoud, D., Gerges, N., & Jaoude, M. A. (2018). Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of food handlers in Lebanese hospitals: A cross-sectional study. Food Control, 85, 263-270.
9. Lazarević, K., Stojanovic, D., Bogdanović, D., & Dolicanin, Z. (2013). Hygiene training of food handlers in hospital settings: important factor in the prevention of nosocomial infections. Central European Journal of Public Health, 21(3), 146-149.
10. Ahmed, O., Mohamed, S. S., Dablool, A. S., & Elawad, M. A. (2020). Food hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices among hospital food handlers in ElManagil City, Sudan. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 14(6), 106-111.
11. Tokuç, B., Ekuklu, G., Berberoğlu, U., Bilge, E., & Dedeler, H. (2009). Knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of food service staff regarding food hygiene in Edirne, Turkey. Food Control, 20(6), 565-568.
2. Palupi, I. R., Fitasari, R. P., & Utami, F. A. (2020). Knowledge, attitude and practice of hygiene and sanitation among food-handlers in a psychiatric hospital in Indonesia. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 61, E642-E649.
3. Hapsari, O. P., Permana, I., & Listiowati, E. (2018). Analysis of hygiene and sanitation practice within hospital foodservice employees. Muhammadiyah Gamping Hospital, 7, 255-260.
4. Adikari, A., Rizana, M., & Amarasekara, T. (2016). Food safety practices in a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. Procedia Food Science, 6, 65-67.
5. Ayçiçek, H., Aydoğan, H., Küçükkaraaslan, A., Baysallar, M., & Basustaoglu, A. (2004). Assessment of the bacterial contamination on hands of hospital food handlers. Food Control, 15, 253-259.
6. Campos, A. K., Cardonha, Â. M. S., Pinheiro, L. B. G., Ferreira, N. R., Azevedo, P. R., & Stamford, T. M. (2009). Assessment of personal hygiene and practices of food handlers in municipal public schools of Natal, Brazil. Food Control, 20, 807-810.
7. Mukhopadhyay, P., Joardar, G., Bag, K., Samanta, A., Sain, S., & Koley, S. (2012). Identifying key risk behaviors regarding personal hygiene and food safety practices of food handlers working in eating establishments located within a hospital campus in Kolkata. Journal of the Medical Sciences, 5, 21-28.
8. Bou-Mitri, C., Mahmoud, D., Gerges, N., & Jaoude, M. A. (2018). Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of food handlers in Lebanese hospitals: A cross-sectional study. Food Control, 85, 263-270.
9. Lazarević, K., Stojanovic, D., Bogdanović, D., & Dolicanin, Z. (2013). Hygiene training of food handlers in hospital settings: important factor in the prevention of nosocomial infections. Central European Journal of Public Health, 21(3), 146-149.
10. Ahmed, O., Mohamed, S. S., Dablool, A. S., & Elawad, M. A. (2020). Food hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices among hospital food handlers in ElManagil City, Sudan. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 14(6), 106-111.
11. Tokuç, B., Ekuklu, G., Berberoğlu, U., Bilge, E., & Dedeler, H. (2009). Knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of food service staff regarding food hygiene in Edirne, Turkey. Food Control, 20(6), 565-568.
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Published
Jul 9, 2024
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How to Cite
Dr. Yogesh Balaso Patil, & Dr. Dadasaheb Hanumantrao Dhage. (2024). HYGIENE PRACTICES AMONG HOSPITAL FOOD HANDLERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AT D. Y. PATIL MEDICAL COLLEGE, KOLHAPUR. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(7), 280–284. https://doi.org/10.53555/jptcp.v31i7.6940
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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Author Biographies
Dr. Yogesh Balaso Patil
Assistant professor, D. Y. Patil Medical College Kolhapur.
Dr. Dadasaheb Hanumantrao Dhage
Assistant professor, Shri rawatpura sarkar institute of medical sciences and research centre Raipur.