A study to Assess the Knowledge with Reference to Universal Precaution as Infection control Measures among the Registered Nurses working in selected Hospital at Urban area

 

Melisa Leo Fernandes

Lecturer, Gokhale Education Society’s, Sir Dr. M.S. Gosavi Institute of Nursing Education,

Training and Research, Nashik, Maharashtra.

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: The term universal precautions mean taking routine safe working practice to protect staff and patients from infection of blood and body fluids. Universal precaution where first officially recommended in 1987. At USA in 1990, the department of health expert advisory group on AIDS recommended the implementation of universal precautions¹. Infection control refers to policies and procedures used to minimize the risk of spreading infections especially in hospitals and human or animal health care facilities. Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge with reference to Infection Control among registered nurses. 2. To assess the knowledge with reference to Universal Precautions among registered nurses. 3. To assess the knowledge about practice with reference to universal precautions as infection control measures among the Registered nurses. 4. To find out the association between levels of knowledge about universal precaution as infection control measures among Registered nurses working in selected hospitals with reference to selected demographic variables. Material and Methods: Descriptive survey approach to assess the existing knowledge with reference to universal precaution as infection control measures, among the registered nurses working in selected hospital at urban area. Results: The demographic variable with their results comprised majority of (80%) registered nurses were between 21-30 years of age, (15%) of them were in age of 31- 40 years and (5%) were in the age of 41-50 years. Majority (85%) of the registered nurses are females. Highest (53.33%) of the registered nurses were undergone ANM course. Majority of the registered nurses had less than ten year’s experience (80%).

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

“Universal precaution” is the international term used by the medical industry to describe the set of measures introduced to allow medical staff to safely handle material that may carry blood or body fluids infected with diseases.

 

Universal Precaution to minimize the infection in medical laboratory worker and health care personnel.

 

Infection control measures are used to decrease the risk of transmission of microorganisms in hospitals. Infection control is the discipline concerned with preventing Noso-comial infection or health care associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub-discipline of epidemiology.²

 

Infections, arise in the hospitals, are termed as hospital associated infections. Such infections have also been called as 'Noso-comial Infections' and sometimes 'Hospital Acquired Infections'. As more health-cares are now provided in ambulant patients the term 'Health care Associated Infections' (HAI) is also used. (WHO. 2002)^.3When taking care of nurses against environmental infections and diseases, they must take standard precautions to stay healthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone should use standard precautions whenever come into contact with body fluids.⁴

 

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:

1.    To assess the knowledge with reference to Infection Control among registered nurses-Meaning of infection control and Methods of infection control

2.    To assess the knowledge with reference to Universal Precautions among   registered   staff nurses: Meaning of Universal Precautions, Importance of the Universal Precautions and Protective barriers in Universal Precautions

3.     To assess the knowledge about practice with reference to universal precautions as infection control measures among the registered nurses.

4.     To find out the association between level of knowledge about universal precaution as infection control measures among registered nurses working in selected hospitals with reference to selected demographic variables.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The study was conducted in selected hospital at urban area of Nashik city. The research design used was descriptive research design, samples are staff nurses of selected hospitals. The sampling technique used for selecting total 60 samples was simple random sampling technique. Tools used for data collection is structured questionnaire. Structured questionnaire was used for assessing the demographic characteristics of the sample and to assess knowledge. The questionnaire consisted of three sections.

 

SECTION 1: Consist of demographic data to elicit the personal information of the respondent including: Age, sex, type of course, years of experience, designation and working area

 

SECTION 2: Knowledge with reference to meaning of infection control measures and methods of infection control.

 

SECTION 3:

Knowledge with reference to meaning of universal precaution, importance of universal precautions and protective barriers of universal precautions.

 

SECTION 4:

Knowledge with reference to practice.

 

Before data collection the written permission was obtained from authorized person. Samples satisfying the inclusion criteria were solicited from the accessible population. Informed consent was obtained from the staffs who are participating in the study. They were assured about the confidentiality of the data. The duration of data collection was approximately 15 minutes for each sample. The data was collected till the desired numbers of samples were obtained.

 

RESULTS:

The significant findings of the study revealed the following:

 

I. Findings related to demographic variables:

Maximum of the samples ie 80% are in the age group of 21-30 years, 85% are female staff. Nearly half of the nurse’s undergone ANM course. Around 80% are had less than 10 years of experience. Total 31.66% are working in ICU/PICU/NICU/SICU.

 

II: Findings related to assessment of knowledge of infection control:

In this present study majority of nurses had knowledge about meaning of infection control, first step to prevent infection and infections occur in health care settings. Majority of nurses 88% had knowledge about methods used to prevent infection in intensive care unit, sterilization techniques and hand washing materials.

 

III: Findings related to of Knowledge regarding universal precaution:

In this present study nearly 70% staff nurses had knowledge about universal precautions protocols and meaning of universal precautions. More than half (65%) of staff nurses had knowledge about ways to control spread of infection and need of universal precautions. Majority of nurses (95%) had knowledge about PPE.

 

IV: Findings related to knowledge about practice:

 

Section V: Finding related to association between selected demographic variables and knowledge assessed:

There was a significant association was found between universal precaution as infection control and the demographic variable like type of course (x²: 9.938) at P< 0.05 level. A positive association existed between the study variable was type of course undergone.

 

CONCLUSION:

From the analysis of obtained data it was evident that knowledge of the registered nurses with reference to universal precaution as infection control measures was good. There was significant association between type of course undergone of the samples and average score of the samples.

 

REFERNCES:

1.     Boskey E, The Purpose of Universal Precaution, Verywealth.com/ Universal Precaution-3132819

2.     Pratheeksha R. A Study to assess knowledge regarding standard precautions among neuronurses. Trivendrum. Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology. 2010; Available from: www.dspace.sctimst.ac.bitstream/handle/123456789/1584/308.pdf

3.     Baveja C.P. Textbook of Microbiology for Nursing 4^th edition. New Delhi; ARYA Publishing Company; 2014

4.     Devaliyal J.J. A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of universal precautions in the nursing staff of Tertiary care hospital, Scholers Journal of Applied Medical Sciences.2016;4(7A):2368-2371, DOI:10:21276/sjams, 2016.4.7.13.

5.     Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc 507413

 

 

 

Received on 01.08.2023        Modified on 19.08.2023

Accepted on 27.08.2023       ©A&V Publications All right reserved