DOI: 10.5176/2251-3833_GHC17.13
Authors: Hung Shuk Yu Maria, Yam Wai Shing Samson, NGAI Cho Ying, Wong Yin Yu Ivan, Li Yip King
Abstract: Effective hand hygiene is considered the most effective measure for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Nursing students can contribute to healthcareassociated infections if having inadequate knowledge and non-compliance of hand hygiene. This study explored the hand hygiene knowledge, practices, compliance and beliefs of university nursing students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a well-validated, self-report hand hygiene questionnaire. In the convenience sampling, 421 out of 506 questionnaires were returned (83.2%). There were 169 (40.14%), 170 (40.38%) and 82 (19.48%) nursing students from Years 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The respondents’ overall mean score for hand hygiene knowledge was 7.33/10 (SD = 1.52) with an increasing trend of knowledge performance along study year was observed. The hand hygiene practice inventory was 4.76/5 (SD = 0.303). The mean scores for respondents from Years 1, 2 and 3 were 4.75 (SD = 0.367), 4.82 (SD = 0.20) and 4.69 (SD = 0.290), respectively. The self-reported hand hygiene compliance rate was 88.17% (SD = 11.922) and the mean score on the health beliefs scale was 4.03/5 (SD = 0.34). The nursing students demonstrated moderate knowledge, good practices, a high compliance rate and positive beliefs in relation to hand hygiene. However, more emphasis on educating healthcare professionals about alcohol-based hand rubs and the promotion of hand cream usage to prevent hand-hygiene-induced skin irritations are recommended. Regular workshops or seminars could be organized to maintain knowledge levels and cultivate a positive attitude toward hand hygiene.
Keywords: belief; hand hygiene; knowledge; nursing student; practice
Updating...