Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected lives all around the world. During it, people had to adhere to stricter hygiene habits than they have before. At the same time, they could experience the importance of hygiene measures first hand. With improved knowledge on disease transmissions, this represent a good starting point for better effectivness of nuding tools. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the pandemic has changed people’s hygiene habits, their motives for performing personal and household hygiene, determine their perception on any changes in their hygiene habits and evaluate most promising graphical nudges for hand hygiene. Methods: We gathered data on hygiene habits of questionnaire respondents before, during and after the pandemic. With programming tool RStudio, we determined potential statistically significant changes in hygiene habits during the forementioned time periods. Additionally, we investigated personal and household hygiene motives, potential changes in hygiene as a result of the pandemic and recorded responses on graphical nudges for hand hygiene. Results: During the pandemic, people’s hygiene habits have improved in all cases in the scope of our research. After the pandemic, statistically significant changes were noted in duration of washing hands with soap, fully drying ones hands and other hygiene practices that are directly related to preventing infections with SARS-CoV-2 virus. The main motive for performing hygiene is self-protection and protection of those close to us. The most popular graphical nudinges were short and simple, colorful, portraying family relations or warning signs. Discussion and conclusion: The frequency and thoroughness of hygiene habits has increased during the pandemic. Hygiene practices, that are directly correlated to preventing infections, are nowadays being performed more consistently than previously. Newfound awarness of the importance of personal and household hygiene can be used as an advantage for the success of nudging tools. When preparing nudging tools, the following measures should be consireded: keeping them short and simple, use colours or resemblance of warning signs and lastly, highlight family images.
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