Objective:

To validate and apply a scale of knowledge and practices in hand sanitation in dentistry students.

Method:

Longitudinal study to validate and apply a scale of educational intervention in a population of 39 dentistry students. We used a primary source of information which consists of the scale; reliability was evaluated with Cronbach's coefficient; internal consistency and validity were evaluated with chi-squared coefficients and content validity was evaluated through exploratory analysis of main components. Effectiveness of the pedagogical intervention in terms of knowledge and practices was evaluated with a two-variable analysis.

Results:

The percentage of success in internal consistency was 77.2% for knowledge items and 72.7% for the practicum items. Validity was of 100% for both, and content had a success percentage of 100% as well. Reliability was 0.7. The scores in knowledge and practices were quite better after the pedagogical intervention.

Conclusion:

We found excellent reliability and validity in the built scale, which represents the availability of an instrument for evaluation of knowledge and practice in hand sanitization in professionals of the health areas and the orientation in the process of information, communication and education.

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