Korean J Health Promot.  2012 Mar;12(1):31-39.

Knowledge and Attitude towards Pathogen Transmission Precautions among Healthcare Workers in a General Hospital

• Jeong I
• Park S

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Pathogen-transmission precautions (PTP), including standard precautions, have been introduced to control the transmission of pathogens among patients and healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge regarding PTP and the attitude towards these precautions among healthcare workers in a hospital setting.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was performed from March to April 2007 using a self-administered questionnaire completed by 235 physicians, 491 nurses, and 117 laboratory technicians working at a large teaching hospital in urban area in Korea.
RESULTS
The overall percentage of correct answers to 13 knowledge-type questions was 66.3%, and the percentage of correct answers differed significantly depending on the profession of the respondents (P<0.001) and exposure to PTP training (P=0.003). The guidelines were the preferred source of information on PTP (57.3%) followed by infection control practitioners (32.0%). The most important obstacles to compliance with PTP guidelines were lack of time (67.5%), forgetfulness (46.8%), lack of knowledge (33.8%), and lack of means (11.0%).
CONCLUSIONS
Level of knowledge on the PTP guidelines was low and required improvement. Lack of time was the most important factor reported leading to poor compliance with the PTP guidelines.

Keyword

Knowledge; Attitude; Disease transmission; Infection; Universal precautions

MeSH Terms

Compliance
Cross-Sectional Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Delivery of Health Care
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Hospitals, General
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Infection Control Practitioners
Laboratory Personnel
Universal Precautions