Abstract
Background: Standard precautions (SPs) guidelines are planned to decrease the risk for healthcare associated infections. These precautions were introduced to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) and patient alike. The foundations for the compliance of HCWs to SPs guidelines are laid out during the formative years of their formal education.Objectives: The objective of the present study was to assess the knowledge of health professions students regarding control and prevention of healthcare associated infections and SPs. the Students׳ behavioral intentions to comply with SPs guidelines was assessed. Additionally, the extent to which this subject is addressed in the curriculums of the nursing, physical therapy and emergency medicine university programs was assessed.Methods: A cross-sectional study. All Bachelor degree students in the departments of nursing, physical therapy and emergency medicine, at a Israeli university were asked to answer a questionnaire to assess knowledge and intentions to comply with SPs guidelines. The extent to which the subject was addressed in curriculums of the three departments was determined by screening all syllabuses for key words related to healthcare associated infections.Results: A total of 283/484 (58%) students completed the questionnaires. The majority were nursing students, 156/214 (55%), followed by emergency medicine students, 74/90(26%), and physical therapy 53/180 (19%). The average grade and standard deviation in knowledge were 63.4+ 11.1, 58.8+10.3, and 55.3+11.5, for nursing, physical therapy and emergency medicine, respectively (F = 13.98, df = 2, P < 0.05). Nursing students had higher intentions to comply with frequent SPs than emergency medicine students (H = 11.1, df = 2, P < 0.05). The syllabuses of the nursing program included eight key words related to healthcare associated infections. No such key words were found in syllabuses of the physical therapy and emergency medicine departments.Conclusions: The results of this research highlight the leading role of nurses in infection control and prevention and the need to enhance the knowledge of healthcare students regarding this subject during their training.
| Translated title of the contribution | Knowledge and Behavioral Intentions Regarding Control and Prevention of Nosocomial Infections among Students in the School for Community Health Professions |
|---|---|
| Original language | Hebrew |
| Pages (from-to) | 20-28 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | גוף ידע |
| Volume | 19 |
| State | Published - Jun 2021 |