A cross sectional study to assess knowledge and self-expressed practices regarding universal precautions among nursing students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20240272Keywords:
National Institute of Nursing Education, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, IndiaAbstract
Background: Each year, 2 million healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to HBV, 9 million to HCV and 1 lakh 70 thousand to HIV. To reduce disease transmission, blood and body fluid precautions were recommended in 1983 by the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Objective was to assess the knowledge and Self-Expressed Practices (SEPs) regarding universal precautions among B.Sc. Nursing (BSN) students and the association between knowledge and SEPs.
Methods: A descriptive approach and cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 200 students from BSN 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd years 60, 70 and 70, respectively, consented to participate in the study. Bio-data profile, a self-structured questionnaire to assess knowledge and a Likert scale to assess SEP.
Results: Only 2.9% of students of BSN 2nd year fall in the adequate knowledge category, whereas 56.67 % (n=60) students of 1st year, 71.5% (n=70) students of 2nd year, and 68.6% (n=70) students of 3rd year belonged to moderate knowledge category. 86.67% of students in BSN 1st year, 78.57% of students 2nd year and 68.57% of students 3rd year fall in the adequate SEPs category. Only BSN 3rd year students showed a significant association between knowledge and SEPs sum total score (p=0.02).
Conclusions: Maximum students had moderate knowledge, but SEPs were in an inadequate category. Students repeatedly receive training regarding universal precautions as they are the future of the health care system, and continuous surveillance of occupational hazards should be conducted to ensure safety and awareness among students and other Health Care Workers (HCWs).
References
Prüss-Üstün A, Rapiti E, Hutin Y, Campbell-Lendrum D, Corvalán C, Woodward A. World Health Organization Protection of the Human Environment Geneva; 2003.
Worthington MG, Ross JJ, Bergeron EK. Posttraumatic stress disorder after occupational hiv exposure: two cases and a literature review. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006;27(2):215-7.
Sohn JW, Kim BG, Kim SH, Han C. Mental health of healthcare workers who experience needlestick and sharps injuries. J Occup Health. 2006;48(6):474-9.
Howsepian AA. Post-traumatic stress disorder following needle-stick contaminated with suspected HIV-positive blood. Gen Hosp Psych. 1998;20(2):123-4.
Garner JS, Simmons BP. Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals. Am J Infect Cont. 1984;12(2).
Protection against viral hepatitis. Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP). MMWR Recommendations and reports : Morbidity and mortality weekly report Recommendations and reports/Centers for Disease Control. 1990;39(RR-2).
Zeb S, Ali TS. Factors associated with the compliance of standard precaution. J Pak Med Assoc. 2021;71(2 B).
Askarian M, McLaws ML, Meylan M. Knowledge, attitude, and practices related to standard precautions of surgeons and physicians in university-affiliated hospitals of Shiraz, Iran. Int J Infect Dis. 2007;11(3):213-9.
Hart AM. Preventing outpatient health care–associated infections. J Nurse Practit. 2019;15(6):400-4.
Haque M, McKimm J, Sartelli M, Dhingra S, Labricciosa FM, Islam S, et al. Strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections: a narrative overview. Risk Manag Health Policy. 2020;13:1765-80.
Sreedharan J, Muttappillymyalil J, Venkatramana M. Knowledge about standard precautions among university hospital nurses in the United Arab Emirates. Eastern Mediterr Health J. 2011;17(4):331-4.
Subramaniam T. The practice of PPE amongst fourth year medical students at A&E. Where are we? Int e-J Sci Medi Educat. 2013;7(2).
Sharma R, Rasania SK, Verma A, Singh S. Study of prevalence and response to needle stick injuries among health care workers in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India. Ind J Commu Medi. 2010;35(1):74.
Ayele DG, BayeTezera Z, Demssie NG, Woretaw AW. Compliance with standard precautions and associated factors among undergraduate nursing students at governmental universities of Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Nurs. 2022;21(1):1-0.
Kotwal A, Taneja DK. Health care workers and universal precautions: Perceptions and determinants of non-compliance. Ind J Commu Medi. 2010;35(4):526.
Wu S, Li L, Wu Z, Cao H, Lin C, Yan Z, et al. Universal precautions in the era of HIV/AIDS: Perception of health service providers in Yunnan, China. AIDS Behav. 2008;12(5):806-14.
Chacko J, Isaac R. Percutaneous injuries among medical interns and their knowledge & practice of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Indian J Public Health. 2007;51(2).
Al-Faouri I, Okour SH, Alakour NA, Alrabadi N. Knowledge and compliance with standard precautions among registered nurses: A cross-sectional study. Ann Medi Surg. 2021;62:419-24.
Punia S, Nair S, Shetty RS. Health care workers and standard precautions: perceptions and determinants of compliance in the emergency and trauma triage of a tertiary care hospital in South India. Int Sch Res Notices. 2014;2014:1-5.
Kale M, Shinde M. Knowledge and practices of universal precautions among basic B.Sc. Nursing Students. IJSR. 2014;3(6):1862-70.
Karim J, Al-Saraji M, Al-Mousawi F, Al-Haddad Z, Al-Sharaf D, Marwan Y, et al. Knowledge and self-reported practice of universal precautions among Kuwait University medical students in their clinical years. Medi Prin Pract. 2012;21(4):328-33.
Ibeziako SN, Ibekwe RC. Knowledge and practice of universal precaution in a tertiary health facility. Niger J Med. 2006;15(3):250-4.
Siddique K, Mirza S, Tauqir SF, Anwar I, Malik AZ. Knowledge attitude and practices regarding needle stick injuries amongst healthcare providers. Pak J Surg. 2008;24(4):243-8.
