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Assessing Hotel Employee Knowledge on Risk Factors and Risk Management Procedures for Microbial Contamination of Hotel Water Distribution Systems

Author

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  • Brandon Leftwich

    (Department of Health Policy and Community Health, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA)

  • Samuel T. Opoku

    (Department of Health Policy and Community Health, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA)

  • Jingjing Yin

    (Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA)

  • Atin Adhikari

    (Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA)

Abstract

Water management plans (WMPs), sometimes referred to as risk management plans (RMPs) or water safety plans (WSPs), are not mandatory for hotels in many countries of the world, including the US. As such, many hotel personnel are uninformed of WMPs and the precautions to take if their hotel water system is compromised. The purpose of this study was to identify hotel personnel’s knowledge and practices of WMPs through a survey incorporating the Health Belief Model (HBM). Data were collected from 59 hotels within Fulton County, Georgia, USA, through a questionnaire, and questions were developed tailored to the HBM. Significant associations were found between the perceived susceptibility of contracting a waterborne illness and WMP for hotel personnel as well as between cues to action and having a WMP in general linear models ( p ≤ 0.05). The study concludes that many key personnel are not aware of WMPs. Many hotel facilities do not have a plan in place, and some facilities are unaware of a current plan is in place. The study findings provide insight into the importance of WMPs and the risk factors associated with microbial contamination in a hotel building’s plumbing system. Future research and potential law change should be emphasized to increase hotel employees’ and owner’s WMP knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Brandon Leftwich & Samuel T. Opoku & Jingjing Yin & Atin Adhikari, 2021. "Assessing Hotel Employee Knowledge on Risk Factors and Risk Management Procedures for Microbial Contamination of Hotel Water Distribution Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3539-:d:526145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joseph O. Falkinham, 2015. "Common Features of Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, April.
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