Assessment Of Knowledge And Attitude Towards Healthcare Associated Infection Among Staff Nurses In Selected Settings

Abstract

Background of the study: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant concern in healthcare settings. This study aims to assess staff nurses' knowledge and attitude towards HAIs in selected settings. Understanding their awareness and perceptions is essential for identifying gaps in infection control practices and improving strategies to enhance patient safety and care outcomes. Methods: This study uses a quantitative, non-experimental descriptive design with a sample of 107 staff nurses from Panimalar Medical College Hospital, selected through purposive sampling. Data is collected through demographic details, a structured knowledge questionnaire on HAIs, and a Likert scale to assess attitudes. Descriptive and correlation analysis will be used. Results: The study reveals the correlation between the knowledge and attitude towards HAIs among the staff nurses. The Correlation coefficient value r = 0.1783 indicates a positive moderately correlation between knowledge and attitude at p = 0.0661* indicating high statistical significance. Conclusion: The study scores significant deficiencies in nurses' knowledge of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which directly impacts their infection control practices. The correlation between knowledge and attitude underscores the need for structured training programs on infection prevention to bridge these gaps. To address these challenges effectively, implementing a HAI Bundle Checklist could enhance compliance with evidence-based infection prevention practices.