Behavioral strategies for reducing disease transmission in the workplace
Stack brief training, visual cues, easy access, and quick feedback to turn CDC advice into daily staff habit.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Gravina et al. (2020) wrote a narrative review. They pulled together ideas on how to stop germs at work.
The paper lists training, signs, feedback, and easy access to supplies. It does not give new data.
What they found
The review says a package works best. Teach the skill, post clear cues, make the response easy, and give quick feedback.
No numbers are reported. The paper is a map, not a scoreboard.
How this fits with other research
Bowman et al. (2019) tested the map. They used a weekly lottery plus feedback with 170 direct-care staff. Hand-washing stayed high for two years. The review’s idea became real-world results.
Choi et al. (2018) compared prompts versus feedback in campus restrooms. Feedback won. This supports the review’s call to move beyond static signs.
Smith et al. (2010) lowered effort by putting sanitizer at every clinic door. Safe behavior rose. The 2020 review labels “reduce response effort” as a key move, and this older study already proved it works.
Why it matters
You can lift the package Monday. Train staff for five minutes, hang a simple scoreboard near the sink, and run a weekly raffle for a $5 coffee card. Make sanitizer easier to reach than the door handle. These small moves stack into big infection control without new funding or burnout.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The coronavirus pandemic highlighted that workplaces may serve as a hub of disease transmission if proper precautions are not enacted. The Centers for Disease Control recommends several strategies for decreasing the spread of illnesses in the workplace, including a) promoting proper hand hygiene, b) cleaning and sanitizing the work area, c) encouraging sick employees to stay home, d) personal protective equipment, and, e) social distancing. Research suggests that instructions are often not sufficient to change work behaviors, and behavioral interventions may be needed. Thus, the present paper reviews existing research that informs the implementation of behavioral strategies to reduce the spread of disease in the workplace, and makes recommendations for organizations to protect employees, clients, and customers. Intervention components such as training, prompts, the reduction of response effort, clear workplace policies, feedback, and consequences are discussed, and practical recommendations and suggestions for future research are provided.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2020 · doi:10.1002/jaba.779