Page 91 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 91
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-129-2.89-96

A study on the experiences of hygiene
requirements among older persons during

the COVID-19 epidemic

Tjaša Kamnik, Mojca Jevšnik

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
t.kamnik@gmail.com; mojca.jevsnik@zf.uni-lj.si

Abstract
Introduction: The COVID – 19 epidemic has brought many challenges
and changes into our lives. It has significantly changed our lifestyles,
which is why many people can see it as a challenge to their mental and
physical health. In our research, we were investigating the experiences
of hygiene requirements among older persons during the COVID-19
epidemic.  Methods: The study was based on a quantitative methodology.
A questionnaire was used to carry out a survey. It contained socio
– demographic data, data on behaviour in trade during COVID-19
epidemic, data on food handling during COVID–19 epidemic, data
on hygiene during COVID–19 epidemic and data about overcoming
disease COVID–19. We invited 80 older persons aged 65 or above.
Results: Of all the invited older persons, 6 did not respond to the survey.
There were 74 respondents, of which we excluded 16 surveys that were
not fully completed. There were 58 respondents included in the study,
of which 19 (32,8 %) men and 39 (67,2 %) women. The results showed
that behaviour in store during COVID–19 epidemic has changed for
91 % older persons. Respondents observed changes in wearing masks,
keeping social distancing, hand disinfection, and infrequent visits to
stores.  Most respondents (78 %) go to the grocery store less often than
before the COVID-19 epidemic, due to risk of infection. In stores, 98 %
respondents touch only those foods that they intend to buy, as they are
afraid of infection and virus transmission. One-third of respondents do
not carry a shopping bag into the kitchen and more than one-third (32
%) of all respondents disinfect it, because in this way, they believe that
they protect themselves from COVID-19 infection. We have also found
that hand hygiene was improved. Due to the fear of infection, 86 % of
respondents wash and disinfect their hands more frequently. Almost
all respondents (97 %) bought hand sanitiser during the epidemic. Of
all respondents, 17 people overcame COVID-19 infection. We were not
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