Infection prevention and control awareness, attitudes, and practices among healthcare professionals in South India

Authors

  • Suhas K. Thazha Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, MIMS College of Allied Health Sciences, ASTER MIMS Academy, Kerala University of Health Sciences, India
  • Jonas Preposi Cruz Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
  • Nahed Alquwez Nursing Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia
  • Bibin Scaria Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, AKG Institute of Health Sciences, Kerala University of Health Sciences, India
  • Sameesh S. Rengan Vocational Higher Secondary Education, Kerala, India
  • Joseph U. Almazan Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.14746

Keywords:

Healthcare, infection, medical laboratory technologist, nurses, prevention

Abstract

Introduction: Infection is a key challenge in healthcare settings around the world. Healthcare professionals (HCPs), including medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) and nurses, are at risk of infection because they are in close contact with infected patients. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the awareness, attitude, and practices of Infection Prevention Control (IPC) among HCPs working in private tertiary hospitals in two states in South India.

Methodology: This quantitative study surveyed 571 HCPs in southern India. In September 2021, an online survey was used to collect data on the respondents’ demographic and IPC-related variables, as well as their awareness, attitudes, and practices of IPC.

Results: The survey revealed high level of awareness, positive attitudes, and good IPC practices. Among the IPC practices, “changing gloves between contacts with different patients” was the most often practiced and “washing hands after removal of gloves” was the least practiced. Being a nurse, being older, finishing a graduate program, attending a risk assessment training, having sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work, and being aware of the safety guidelines were associated with better awareness. Being a nurse, being older, and holding a diploma were associated with more positive attitudes. Being MLT, attending risk assessment training, having sufficient PPE at work, and being aware of the safety guidelines were associated with better IPC practices.

Conclusions: Measures to sustain the high awareness, positive attitudes, and good IPC practices by dealing with the factors associated with these variables identified in this study must be planned and implemented.

Author Biographies

Suhas K. Thazha, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, MIMS College of Allied Health Sciences, ASTER MIMS Academy, Kerala University of Health Sciences, India

Lecturer, Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences

Nahed Alquwez, Nursing Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia

Assistant Professor and Dean, College of Applied Medical Sciences at Dawadmi

Bibin Scaria, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, AKG Institute of Health Sciences, Kerala University of Health Sciences, India

Lecturer, Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences at Shaqra

Joseph U. Almazan, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Assistant Professor, College of Medicine

Downloads

Published

2022-04-30

How to Cite

1.
Thazha SK, Cruz JP, Alquwez N, Scaria B, Rengan SS, Almazan JU (2022) Infection prevention and control awareness, attitudes, and practices among healthcare professionals in South India. J Infect Dev Ctries 16:659–667. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14746

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 04: April 2022

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC