Climbing the Intervention Ladder to handwashing compliance: A review and directions for future research

Proper handwashing is a simple, cost effective means for reducing the risk of foodborne disease transmission. Low compliance rates are often observed among food handlers, and a wide range of interventions have attempted to increase compliance, often with little success. Promoting lasting behavior change is difficult, and theoretical models like the Intervention Ladder developed by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics function as useful paradigms to help guide and promote behavior change.