J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2024 Aug;31(3):295-303. 10.7739/jkafn.2024.31.3.295.

The Risk of Contamination according to Hairstyle during Aseptic Procedures in Nursing Students: An Observational Study

• Lim SY
• Kim EJ

• KMID: 2558782
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2024.31.3.295

Abstract

Purpose
This study investigated the relationship between the risk of contamination during aseptic procedures performed by nursing students and the hairstyle type of the student performing the procedure.
Methods
This study employed an observational design. The participants were 139 nursing students recruited from two colleges. Participants with short hair were assigned to the short-hair group (Group 1) without randomization. The remaining participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: those who put their hair in a hairnet (Group 2), those who had their hair tied back (Group 3), and those who had their hair untied (Group 4). Raters used a checklist to assess participants’ performance of aseptic procedures and contamination-related behaviors.
Results
Compared to the group wearing a hairnet (Group 2), more contamination occurred in the group with long hair tied back (Group 3) or not tied up (Group 4) (p<.001). Hair-related contamination risk behaviors were significantly more common in students with untied long hair (Group 4) than in the other three groups (Group 1, 2, and 3) (p<.001).
Conclusion
These results suggest that when performing aseptic procedures, measures are needed to prevent hair-related contamination by restraining the hair or using a hair cap.

Keyword

Asepsis; Equipment contamination; Hair; Infection control; 무균, 오염, 머리카락, 감염관리