Doktor Muda Competencies: Self-efficacy and Hand Washing Demonstration Skill among School Children in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: “Doktor Muda” (DM) programme was developed by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Malaysia to train a group of pupils as peer educator for change in motivating and assisting their peers to adopt healthy practices especially in hand washing through good knowledge, positive attitude, high self-efficacy and skill to deliver health messages AIM : This study aims to identify the association of socio demographic, knowledge, attitude, and practices with self-efficacy in proper hand washing. METHODS : A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire and observation checklists for hand washing demonstration skills. RESULT : This study showed that the subjects` knowledge (16.7%), practice (23.8%) and self-efficacy (41.7) in proper hand washing were low. Significant association were found between gender (p=0.004), academic achievements (p=0.038) and practices (p=0.003) with self-efficacy in proper hand washing. CONCLUSION : Various strategies are needed to strengthen DM role as peer educators and health change agents in school as levels of their knowledge, practice and self-efficacy were low.