Using computer-assisted method to teach children with intellectual disabilities handwashing skills

Abstract

Purpose: To motivate children with intellectual disabilities (ID) to learn handwashing and improve their performance by using computer-assisted teaching method. Method: A teaching program was implemented using a computerized teaching station with faucet, soap dispenser and towel dispenser as user interface. In response to the children’s actions, animations were shown on the computer screen of the teaching station. A controlled study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of the proposed method (study group) with that of the convention teaching method (control group). Both groups of subjects attended a 30-min handwashing lesson twice per week for 2 months. Their performance was evaluated using a handwashing task checklist and a learning motivation questionnaire, and by measuring the completion time and assessing their hand cleanliness. Results: The computer-assisted teaching program improved the handwashing performance and learning motivation of the subjects. The study group appeared to outperform the control group. Observations reflected that the subjects were highly motivated to learn handwashing with the computerized teaching station. Conclusion: The proposed method has the potential to facilitate the teaching and learning of handwashing skills for children with ID.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Children with intellectual disabilities are prone to contracting infectious diseases.

• Proper handwashing can reduce the risk of infection.

• Handwashing skills are taught in special schools but outbreaks continue to occur.

• Computer-assisted teaching method has potential to improve the children’s learning motivation and handwashing performance.

Keywords::

• Intellectual disabilities
• hand hygiene
• handwashing
• children
• computer-assisted teaching

Declaration of Interest: This work was supported in part by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Project No. G-U509 and 87RF). The authors report no declarations of interest.

Appendix

Learning Motivation Questionnaire