KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND CLINICAL STUDENTS ABOUT INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES AWARENESS AT HOSPITALS

Abstract Healthcare-associated infections are a major global public health concern. Health care workers are on the front line of protecting themselves and clients from infection, through preventing the transmission of nosocomial infections and that is through the implementation of infection control measures. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention among healthcare workers at Lebanese hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was implemented in the study, where the sample included 240 participants (80 nurses, 80 medical lab, and 80 clinical students). Participants were surveyed using pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. The results showed that knowledge between the three groups was good regarding standard precautions, but moderate regarding post exposure prophylaxis and vaccination. The results showed 41.7% of participants know the correct vaccines recommended, and medical labs were significantly higher than the other two groups, (p=0.00). Despite the good knowledge about standard precautions, the main reason for noncompliance was that they don’t have time to wear PPE’s while working and nurses were significantly higher than the other two groups, (p=0.00). The adherence to the use of PPE’s was significantly related to if they have regular access to them in the facility, (p=0.00).Among those who had occupational exposure nurses were significantly higher in reporting the exposure, (p=0.001). In addition, 62.9% reported that PEP medications were available at their work place, while 52.5% experienced sometime unavailability of these medications. This study revealed a good knowledge and attitude of infection prevention among the majority of participants with relatively minimal practice rate.