Assessment of Health Personnel's Performance Regarding Infection Control in Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Infection control is a discipline that applies epidemiologic and scientific principles and statistical analysis to the prevention or reduction in rates of nosocomial infections. Indeed, infection control is a key component of the broader discipline of hospital epidemiology. Aim: assess of health personnel's performance knowledge, practice and attitude regarding infection control in I.C.U. Setting: The study was conducted in three intensive care units (Surgical ICU, Neurological ICU, Medical emergency ICU) at Ain Shams University Hospitals. Design: A descriptive exploratory design used in carrying out the study. Subjects: A purposive sample of 50 nurses, 15 physicians and 6 workers. Tools: data were obtained through three main tools; Self-administered questionnaire tool, observation checklist and attitude questionnaire tool. Results: Nurses had unsatisfactory level of knowledge, practice & positive attitude. There were satisfactory moderate significant relation between level of practice and their Conclusion: About two-thirds of studied nurses had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and less than half of them had unsatisfactory level of practice. Less than one third of physicians had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and all of them satisfactory level of practice. Half of workers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and more than half had unsatisfactory level of practice. As regard attitude most of them had positive attitude. There is statistical significant between the health personnel's and the age, level of education and years of experience. Recommendations: Education: Develop an orientation program for newly appointed staff in infection control. Develop health teaching programs for nurses, through a simple booklet with update knowledge and instruct about infection