discussion

The article I was assigned examines the role of the workplace in promoting employee well-being through hand hygiene practices. It surveyed university employees and tested a model based on the theory of planned behavior to predict hand hygiene practices and beliefs. The study found that hand hygiene behaviors lowered the likelihood of reporting respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

Utilizing the Use of Literature Checklist, I examined the article and found that the study effectively used literature. It presented a problem, highlighting employers’ interest in reducing infectious diseases. 
The study also introduced the Theory of Planned Behavior as the basis for understanding and predicting hand hygiene practices and beliefs, guiding three hypotheses. It also references previous studies (such as Stedman-Smith et al., 2012 and Sax et al., 2007) and guidelines (CDC, 2013) to support the model’s validity and aligns the findings with prior research on hand hygiene behaviors and health outcomes.

Further, the article addressed the problem of predicting hand hygiene practices and reducing workplace illness, to test a model based on the theory of planned behavior. Key variables such as hand hygiene behaviors, beliefs, and health outcomes are clearly defined. The sample consisted of 1,600 full-time employees from a university. The results indicated that beliefs predicted hand hygiene behaviors, which reduced the likelihood of illness. While the article cites relevant sources, it does not provide a detailed critique of the literature, and most citations are not from the past five years. 

I also used the Problem Statement Checklist to evaluate the article. I found that it identifies the problem of poor hand hygiene practices in the workplace, which leads to increased illness, and showed a need for the study. I found that the rationale for the problem is justified by its impact on employee health and the potential for reducing sickness through improved hand hygiene. The problem is framed consistently with the research approach, using the theory of planned behavior to examine the relationship between beliefs and hand hygiene behaviors. The study’s purpose is tied to addressing this problem by testing a predictive model. However, as mentioned above, the citations used are not current, with most references being older than five years, although they support the study’s foundation.

For a research study to be justified and grounded in the literature, it must be supported by prior research, showing that the topic is important and relevant, and the methodology builds on established knowledge. The study should also reference key works that form the foundation for understanding the issue being investigated.

To be original using the Litmus Test, a problem must address a gap in existing research or propose a new angle on a familiar issue. This “gap” means the problem hasn’t been adequately studied before, making the research necessary to advance the field.

Reference:

Stedman-Smith, M., DuBois, C. L., & Grey, S. F. (2015). Hand hygiene
performance and beliefs among public university employees.
Journal of Health Psychology, 20(10), 1263–1274.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105313510338