Assessment of Determinants of Infection Prevention and Control in Clinical Practices among Staff Nurses in Tertiary Care Hospital Rawalpindi

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is a worldwide and essential factor of all healthcare systems as Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) interrupt the health and safety of all those who use those facilities and who deliver them. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of knowledge, attitude and practices of the staff nurses towards prevention of infection and control in clinical practice.

Study Design: An institution based cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), Rawalpindi over a period of 06 months (from Jan 2021 to June 2021).

Patients and Methods: Using purposive sampling technique, a sample of 200 participants were chosen and through a structured self-administered questionnaire data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 26.

Results: Among the study participants, 154 (77%), 165 (82.2%), and 106 (53%) were having adequate knowledge, positive attitude and satisfactory practice scores, respectively. About 1/3 (35%) of the respondents were untrained on risk assessment. Around sixty eight percent participants (68.5%) were recapping needles after use. There was a high (37%) prevalence of needle stick injury but limited (32.5%) use of post-exposure prophylaxis after potential exposure. The level of knowledge and practice scores among the study participants were also found to be low.

Conclusion: In spite of adequate knowledge and awareness of universal protocol for the prevention of HAIs, the adherence to the protocol was poor among the health care workers.