Survey shows handwashing habits have changed since COVID-19
by CM Staff
Survey also exposes sharp differences between male and female handwashing habits
PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons
TORONTO — Dial Canada, a hand soap and personal-care products provider, released results of its national survey that asked Canadians to weigh in on how COVID-19 has impacted their handwashing practices.
The results of the recent survey, conducted in English and French by bms – marketing research + strategy, include:
Frequency of handwashing before and since COVID-19:
According to the survey, the number of people who said they wash their hands for more than 10 times a day has more than doubled since the pandemic. Of those surveyed, 13.8% said they washed their hands 10 times or more a day prior to the pandemic, while 36.9% of respondents said they washed their hands 10 times or more a day since the pandemic.
The survey also asked Canadians about their handwashing habits both before and since the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the most common handwashing routine was 3 to 4 times a day. Since the pandemic, the most common response jumped to 11 to 14 handwashes a day.
When asked about handwashing frequency before COVID-19, the respondents’ most popular answer (28.8%) was 3 to 4 times a day. When asked about handwashing frequency since COVID-19, the respondents’ most popular answer (19.5%) was more than 10 times but less than 15 a day.
About 1/3 wash their hands “sometimes” before eating. Of those surveyed, 64.8% said they always washed their hands before eating. 32.9% said they sometimes washed their hands before eating. 2.3% admitted to never washing their hands before eating.
Length of handwashing before and since COVID-19:
90% of people are now washing their hands for the recommended 20 seconds — this number is close to double the comparable pre-pandemic number.
Less than half (48.6%) of the respondents said they washed their hands for at least 20 seconds prior to the pandemic. Since the pandemic, 89.8% of those surveyed said they washed their hands for the recommended 20 seconds or more. This represents an 85% increase.
Gender:
50% more women than men wash their hands more than 10 times a day. Of the females surveyed, 42.8% said they washed their hands more than 10 times a day since the pandemic.
Of the males surveyed, 27.4% said they washed their hands more than 10 times a day since the pandemic.
