Week 2 NR536: Health Promotion to Prevent the Spread of Strep Throat in a Daycare Setting

In a daycare setting, the rapid spread of infectious diseases is a significant concern, especially when young children, who are often more susceptible to infections, are in close contact with one another. The scenario under discussion involves preventing the spread of Strep-A throat infections (commonly known as strep throat) after two children have been diagnosed with the illness within the past week. The goal is to implement effective health promotion strategies to mitigate further transmission of the infection. To guide this intervention, the Health Belief Model (HBM) will be applied, providing a structured approach to educating daycare personnel on necessary preventive measures.

Health Belief Model Application

The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a psychological model that helps to explain and predict health-related behaviors by focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individuals. This model is particularly useful in understanding how individuals perceive the threat of a health issue and their readiness to take action to prevent or manage it (Janz & Becker, 1984). The HBM comprises several key components: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy.

In the context of the daycare setting, the personnel’s recognition of the potential threat posed by strep throat represents their perceived susceptibility and severity of the issue. The fact that two children have already been diagnosed with strep throat increases the perceived threat, making it more likely that the daycare staff will be motivated to take preventive actions. The perceived benefits of these actions, such as reducing the spread of infection and protecting the health of all children in the daycare, outweigh any perceived barriers, such as the time and effort required to implement new hygiene practices.

Rationale for Choosing the Health Belief Model

The Health Belief Model is particularly appropriate for this scenario because it emphasizes the importance of perceived threat as a motivator for behavior change. The daycare personnel are already aware of the strep throat cases, which naturally heightens their concern about the potential spread of the infection. This awareness creates a readiness to learn and adopt preventive measures. The HBM allows for the tailoring of educational interventions that address the specific concerns and perceived barriers of the daycare staff, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful implementation of the recommended practices.

Educational Intervention

The educational intervention for the daycare personnel would focus on several key areas:

1. Disinfection of Shared Toys and Surfaces: One of the primary ways strep throat can spread in a daycare environment is through the sharing of toys and surfaces that have been contaminated by respiratory droplets from an infected child. To mitigate this risk, it is crucial to educate the staff on the importance of regularly disinfecting toys, especially those that are frequently handled by multiple children. Toys should be cleaned and disinfected between uses, using appropriate disinfectants that are safe for children. Additionally, surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, and play areas should be disinfected multiple times throughout the day.
2. Prevention of Sharing Eating and Drinking Utensils: Another critical area of focus is preventing the sharing of eating and drinking utensils among children. Daycare staff should be instructed to ensure that each child uses their own designated utensils during meal and snack times. It is also important to educate the staff on the need to thoroughly clean and sanitize all utensils after use to prevent the spread of the bacteria that cause strep throat.
3. Monitoring for Symptoms of Infection: Early detection of strep throat symptoms is essential in preventing the spread of the infection. Daycare personnel should be trained to monitor children for symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and rash both upon arrival and throughout the day. If a child exhibits any of these symptoms, they should be separated from the other children and the parents should be contacted immediately to arrange for the child to be picked up and evaluated by a healthcare provider.
4. Frequent Handwashing: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infections in any setting, including daycares. The educational intervention would emphasize the importance of frequent handwashing for both children and staff. Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after coughing, sneezing, blowing the nose, or handling any potentially contaminated objects. Where soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content should be used.
5. Communication with Parents: In addition to educating the daycare personnel, it is important to involve parents in the infection prevention efforts. The staff should be encouraged to communicate with parents about the measures being taken at the daycare to prevent the spread of strep throat and to ask parents to monitor their children for symptoms at home. Parents should also be advised to keep their child at home if they exhibit any symptoms of strep throat or have been diagnosed with the infection, until they have completed a course of antibiotics and are no longer contagious.

Conclusion

The prevention of strep throat in a daycare setting requires a comprehensive approach that involves both education and the implementation of effective hygiene practices. By applying the Health Belief Model, the educational intervention can be tailored to address the specific concerns and motivations of the daycare personnel, increasing the likelihood of successful adoption of the recommended practices. Through proper disinfection, monitoring of symptoms, frequent handwashing, and communication with parents, the daycare can significantly reduce the risk of further transmission of strep throat, protecting the health and well-being of all children in their care.

References

Janz, N. K., & Becker, M. H. (1984). The Health Belief Model: A decade later. Health Education Quarterly, 11(1), 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818401100101

Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2021). Health promotion model. Chamberlain University.