Assessment Of Infection Control Knowledge And Practice Compliance Among Nursing Staff In Emergency And Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant problem to healthcare systems across the world and especially in hospitals that are considered high-risk areas such as emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). Nurses are at the core of applying infection prevention and control (IPC). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the level of knowledge regarding infection control, adherence to infection control measures, as well as the significance of the institutional support of the nursing staff working in EDs and ICUs. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study with 178 nurses. The questionnaire of the structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale was used to collect data. Pearson correlation analysis and descriptive statistics were done. The findings showed that there was a high rate of knowledge (M = 4.51), compliance (M = 4.50) and institutional support (M = 4.48). There was a high positive correlation between compliance and the knowledge on infection control (r =.62, p <.001). There was moderately strong correlation between institutional support and knowledge (r = .48, p <.001) and compliance (r =.55, p <.001). These results demonstrate how knowledge, adherence to practice, and organizational support depend on each other in high-risk clinical settings. Enhancing specific training interventions and the reinforcement of institutional involvement can be used as the next potential way to improve the results of infection control.