Korean J healthc assoc Infect Control Prev.  2022 Dec;27(2):168-176. 10.14192/kjicp.2022.27.2.168.

Infection Control Knowledge, Awareness, and Self-confidence in Performance among Nursing and Medical Students in Korea

• Kim OS
• Kim KM
• Kim TH
• Lee J
• Jeong SY
• Cha KS
• Choi JH
• Hong SJ

• KMID: 2537078
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14192/kjicp.2022.27.2.168

Abstract

Background
This study was conducted to identify the infection control (IC) knowledge, perceptions, and self-confidence in performance level of nursing and medical students and to confirm the relationship between IC knowledge, awareness, and self-confidence in performance.
Methods
This study was conducted as a descriptive survey. The participants were students attending either the college of medicine or nursing in South Korea. Data were collected using a Google online questionnaire and the number of subjects was 242.
Results
For IC knowledge, the correct answer rate was 80% for medical and nursing students. By subcategories, answers regarding standard precautions and hand hygiene had the highest correct answer rate of 86%. The IC awareness of medical and nursing students was 4.74±0.31 points. By subcategories, their awareness of transmission-based precautions was the highest at 4.81±0.32 points. Medical and nursing students’ performance confidence of IC was 4.61±0.42 points. Self-confidence in performance of respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette was the highest at 4.73±0.39 points. Positive correlations were observed between knowledge and awareness of IC (r=.41, P<.001), self-confidence in performance (r=.33, P<.001), and awareness and self-confidence in performance (r=.77, P<.001).
Conclusion
This study identified that the average correct answer rate related to IC knowledge among medical and nursing students was relatively high. However, the self-confidence in performance was lower than that of IC awareness. This suggests that it is necessary to develop and apply a systematic education program, considering that the higher the knowledge and awareness, the stronger the self-confidence in performance of IC.

Keyword

Students; Infection control; Knowledge, Awareness; Confidence

Reference

1. Kim KM. 2018. Dec. 28. The present and future of infection control education and research. Paper presented at: Korean society of infection control nursing conference. Seoul, Korea:

2. Dailymedi. Forty percent of medical students said 'Infection control education before hospital practicum was insufficient'. https://www.dailymedi.com/detail.php?number=853351&thread=22r04. Updated on 28 February 2020.

3. Kim JH, Song HS, Park YH. 2020; Knowledge on nosocomial infection, awareness and performance of standard precautions in nursing students. J Learn Cent Curric Instr. 20:669–87. DOI: 10.22251/jlcci.2020.20.3.669.

4. Yang SY, Lim HN. 2017; Awareness and performance on standard precautions of hospital-acquired infection control in nursing students: the mediating effect of internal health locus of control. J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ. 23:378–88. DOI: 10.5977/jkasne.2017.23.4.378.

5. Yu HS. 2017; Factors influencing performance on standard precautions of infection control in nursing students. J Korean Data Anal Soc. 19:2205–17. DOI: 10.37727/jkdas.2017.19.4.2205.

6. Lee SJ, Park JY, Jo N. 2017; Influence of knowledge and awareness on nursing students' performance of standard infection control guidelines. J Korean Acad Nurs Adm. 23:347–58. DOI: 10.11111/jkana.2017.23.4.347.

7. Choi JR, Ko IS, Yim YY. 2016; Factors influencing nursing students' performance of infection control. J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs. 23:136–48. DOI: 10.7739/jkafn.2016.23.2.136.

8. Seo JH, Jung EY. 2017; Factors influencing nursing students' performance on standard precautions of infection control. J Korean Biol Nurs Sci. 19:69–75. DOI: 10.7586/jkbns.2017.19.2.69.

9. AL-Rawajfah OM, Tubaishat A. 2015; Nursing students' knowledge and practices of standard precautions: a Jordanian web-based survey. Nurse Educ Today. 35:1175–80. DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2015.05.011. PMID: 26043655.

10. Legeay C, Thépot-Seegers V, Groh M, Pilmis B, Zahar JR. 2015; Medical students' knowledge of infection control and prevention: factors associated with better results and room for improvement. Am J Infect Control. 43:1142–3. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.05.045. PMID: 26190384.

11. Oh JY, Mun JY, Oh HK. 2016; Affecting factors on performance of nursing students regarding standard precautions for healthcare associated infection control and prevention. J Health Inform Stat. 41:270–7. DOI: 10.21032/jhis.2016.41.3.270.

12. Korea Centers for Disease Control. Guidelines for prevention and control of healthcare associated infections. https://khna.or.kr/bbs/bbs/board.php?bo_table=news&wr_id=11526. Updated on 1 August 2017.

13. Ghalya HA, Ibrahim Y. 2014; Knowledge, attitudes and sources of information among nursing students toward infection control and standard precautions. Life Sci J. 11:249–60.

14. Amin TT, Al Noaim KI, Bu Saad MA, Al Malhm TA, Al Mulhim AA, Al Awas MA. 2013; Standard precautions and infection control, medical students' knowledge and behavior at a Saudi university: the need for change. Glob J Health Sci. 5:114–25. DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v5n4p114. PMID: 23777728. PMCID: PMC4776810.

15. Lee JI, Bang SY, Do YS. 2018; Knowledge, awareness, and compliance on standard precautions among nursing college students. J Korean Public Health Nurs. 32:400–10.

16. Paul B, Pawar A, Kumar D, Sujesh PK. 2014; A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of universal precautions among medical and nursing students. Sch J Appl Med Sci. 2:1821–3.

17. van de Mortel TF, Apostolopoulou E, Petrikkos G. 2010; A comparison of the hand hygiene knowledge, beliefs, and practices of Greek nursing and medical students. Am J Infect Control. 38:75–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2009.05.006. PMID: 19748158.

18. Kim BH, Kang HY. 2019; Knowledge, perception, and attitude related to personal protective equipment of student nurses: acute respiratory infections. J Korea Acad Ind Coop Soc. 20:139–47.

19. Yun SG. 2021. Effect of nurses' knowledge, organizational culture, and work load on the performance of safe injection practices [master's thesis]. University of Ulsan;Ulsan:

20. Song KJ. 2020. Factors that affect safe injection practices of nurses at small and medium sized hospitals: application of theory of planned behavior [master's thesis]. Konyang University;Nonsan:

21. Dolan SA, Arias KM, Felizardo G, Barnes S, Kraska S, Patrick M, et al. 2016; APIC position paper: safe injection, infusion, and medication vial practices in health care. Am J Infect Control. 44:750–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.02.033. PMID: 27184207.

22. Kim MS, Kim JS. 2017; Predictors for standard precautions compliance in healthcare-associated infection control among nursing students. J Korea Contents Assoc. 17:569–81.

23. Kim KM, Kim MA, Chung YS, Kim NC. 2001; Knowledge and performance of the universal precautions by nursing and medical students in Korea. Am J Infect Control. 29:295–300. DOI: 10.1067/mic.2001.114837. PMID: 11584254.

24. Tavolacci MP, Ladner J, Bailly L, Merle V, Pitrou I, Czernichow P. 2008; Prevention of nosocomial infection and standard precautions: knowledge and source of information among healthcare students. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 29:642–7. DOI: 10.1086/588683. PMID: 18611166.

25. Korean Society for Nosocomial Infection Control. 2011. Infection control and prevention in healthcare facilities. 4th ed. Hanmi Book;Seoul: p. 897–910. DOI: 10.1086/588683.

26. Seo JM, Jeong IS. 2010; Post-exposure reporting of needlestick and sharp-object injuries among nurses. Korean J Nosocomial Infect Control. 15:26–35.

27. Yu JW, Yang NY. 2017; Characteristics and knowledge of needlestick injuries and compliance with standard precautions in healthcare workers. J Korean Acad Soc Home Health Care Nurs. 24:275–83.

28. Zelnick JR, Gibbs A, Loveday M, Padayatchi N, O'Donnell MR. 2013; Health-care workers' perspectives on workplace safety, infection control, and drug-resistant tuberculosis in a high-burden HIV setting. J Public Health Policy. 34:388–402. DOI: 10.1057/jphp.2013.20. PMID: 23719292. PMCID: PMC4003866.

29. Jeong MH. 2015; Survey of exposure to blood and body fluids, knowledge, awareness and performance on standard precautions of infection control in nursing Students. J Korea Contents Assoc. 15:316–29. DOI: 10.5392/JKCA.2015.15.04.316.

30. Kim HJ, Song HS. 2020; The experiences of nursing student's introductory clinical practice. J Korea Acad Ind Coop Soc. 21:74–84.

31. Gould D, Drey N. 2013; Student nurses' experiences of infection prevention and control during clinical placements. Am J Infect Control. 41:760–3. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.01.025. PMID: 23993761.