The research article I selected for research example #4 is an article I found in the current periodical section of the library. The article is from the Journal of Environmental Health volume 73, number 4, November 2010. The title of the article is “Nonhygienic Behavior, Knowledge and Attitudes Among Interactive Splash Park Visitors.” The authors of this article conducted a behavioral observation study at four Idaho splash parks to determine the effectiveness of signage and attendance and to establish baseline information on non-hygienic behavior, knowledge, and attitudes among the visitors. Splash parks are popular because they are usually free, easy to get to, and many times are located within municipal parks. These splash parks are water attractions spray or pour water on visitors and have been associated with outbreaks of illnesses. The proposed research method was reviewed by the Idaho department of health and welfare IRB and was granted an exempt status. The study had two main components: (1) observation of the behavior of children visiting the splash parks and (2) administering a questionnaire to the adult supervisors. There were 145 children observed who ranged in ages to less than one year to seventeen years. thirty -eight percent of the children wore either traditional disposable or swim diapers. Twenty – three percent of the children observed placed an open mouth to the splash park water and forty -six percent of the children were observed exposing their butts to splash park water. Of the 564 adults that were surveyed, fifty – seven percent told their children not to drink the splash park water, eighty percent of the adults watched their children’s hands with soap and water after leaving the park. Only twenty – five percent of the adults told the children not to sit on top of the fountains and only twenty – seven percent bathed the children before visiting the park. Seventy -five percent of the adults thought that splash parks were safer than swimming pools. The authors concluded that splash designers and public health officials should be mindful of the fact that children engage in non – hygienic behavior in spite of the presence educational signs and attendants. Splash parks should be designed to protect against transmission of chlorine resistant organisms be installing additional disinfection technologies.

Randall J. Nett, Robin Toblin, Annora Sheehan, Wan-Ting Huang, Andrew Baughman, Kris Carter. 2010 “Nonhygienic Behavior, Knowledge and Attitudes Among Interactive Splash Park Visitors.” Journal of Environmental Health. Vol 73 (4): 8-14