Effectiveness of Immersive and Embodied Enhancement via "Virtual Reality" on the Sustainability of Hand Hygiene Compliance:Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of a School-Based Training Program

Regular and sustained handwashing is a key preventive measure for reducing the transmission of infectious diseases among school-aged children. Virtual reality (VR) interventions have demonstrated potential to facilitate behavioral change by creating immersive environments in which behavioral and environmental variables can be systematically manipulated. Compared with conventional verbal or video-based instruction, VR-based handwashing education may provide students with more interactive and experiential learning opportunities, and may improve cleaning of commonly missed areas, such as the wrists. However, evidence on school-based VR interventions for handwashing education in Hong Kong remains limited.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a customized VR intervention for teaching handwashing skills to secondary school students in Hong Kong. The intervention teaches the 7-step handwashing technique recommended by the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The study will assess changes in handwashing performance and examine the longer-term effects of the intervention on handwashing habits, behavioral determinants, and hand hygiene.