Infection prevention insights into knowledge scores, improved hand hygiene and personal protective equipment compliance among nurses at tertiary healthcare
Keywords:
Infection prevention and control, nursing staff, compliance, healthcare-associated infections, patient safetyAbstract
Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a vital program to minimize the risk of health care-associated infections (HAIs) and keep healthcare workers safe and healthy for patients. Nursing staff are in close and continuous contact with patients so present study was set to evaluate the knowledge and compliance of the nursing staff with IPC measures and to find the associated factors. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 150 nursing staff of various clinical departments of tertiary care hospitals. Structured self-administered questionnaire data collected on socio-demographic characteristics, IPC knowledge, hand hygiene, PPE use, waste disposal and standard precautions. The total knowledge and compliance score were obtained and then divided into poor, moderate and good. Data was analyzed in SPSS version 26.0. Result: The mean knowledge score was 78.4 ± 11.2 and the mean compliance score was 74.6 ± 12.8. The participants' knowledge about the topic was good in 58.0%, moderate in 32.0% and poor in 10.0%. The percentage of nurses that reported good compliance was 54.0% and 33.3% reported moderate compliance. There was significant association between knowledge level and compliance (p < 0.001); and there was positive correlation between compliance score and knowledge score (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). Knowledge and IPC training as well as professional experience, were significant predictors of compliance. Conclusion: Nursing staff had good knowledge and compliance with IPC. There was positive correlations between higher knowledge and IPC training and compliance. Recommendations include regular education and monitoring for strengthening IPC practices.
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