NEW YORKERS DON’T WASH THEIR HANDS WITH SOAP IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS ACCORDING TO HUNTER COLLEGE STUDY

Almost 20% of All Men Studied Did Not Even Rinse Hands with Water

Date: June 4, 2004
Contact: Deborah Sack (deborah.sack@hunter.cuny.edu)
Phone: (212) 772-4070

June 3, 2004 [New York, NY] – According to a study conducted by Hunter College students, while most New Yorkers wash their hands with water after using the facilities in public restrooms, approximately one quarter do not bother using soap. The Hunter students, all enrolled in a Basic Research Methods course, observed hand-washing habits of over 2,000 people in public restrooms in several locations in New York City, including transportation centers, an “upscale” department store, a “regular” department store, museums, and a food court.

Another major finding in the study was that the incidence of hand washing varied considerably by the location of the restroom. People in transportation centers were far less likely to wash their hands with both soap and water than people in other settings, particularly the “upscale” department store.

“New Yorkers need to be better educated on the importance of washing hands as the risk of contracting a number of infectious diseases could be substantially reduced,” said Hunter College Professor Peter Tuckel, who directed the hand-washing study.

Other key findings from the study include:

• Overall, men were less diligent about washing their hands with both soap and water than women;
• Teens had poorer hygienic habits than adults;
• Individuals who walked into the restroom with a family member or friend were more apt to wash their hands with soap and water than individuals who entered the restroom unaccompanied by someone they knew; and
• Males using just the urinals were less conscientious about hand washing than males who exited the stalls

About Hunter
With a highly diverse student population of more than 20,000, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system and the first choice among all CUNY applicants. Founded in 1870, the College offers more than 170 undergraduate and graduate programs. Hunter is noted for its professional schools in education, health sciences, nursing and social work, as well as its excellence in the liberal arts. Heralded as the "Crown Jewel of CUNY" by The Princeton Review, Hunter College has a distinguished reputation for nurturing talented minority scientists and meeting the challenge of providing high-quality science education in the 21st century. The College also oversees the Hunter College Campus Schools serving gifted and talented students, preschool through grade 12. For more information about Hunter College, please visit our Web site at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu.

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