Assessment of Infection Prevention and Control Practices among Medical Students of a Medical College in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and their complications has been known for several years. The only way to reduce HCAI rates, and to improve the knowledge of standard precautions and abidance among doctors is by incorporating infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the curriculum of medical students. Objective: To determine the knowledge and practice of infection prevention and control measures among medical students. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 146 medical students in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year of their MBBS in a private medical college, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. Students were asked to fill a pretested semi-structured questionnaire comprising questions on socio-demographic details, knowledge and practice on hand hygiene and standard precautions, cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene, and personal protective equipment usage. The collected information was analysed using SPSS software version 21.0. Results: 134 students had adequate knowledge about the standard precautions and hand hygiene, 143 had adequate knowledge of cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene and 115 had adequate knowledge about the use of personal protective equipment. Only 21 students always followed all 8 steps of hand-washing, and 46 students followed proper donning and doffing instructions. Female students were found to have adequate knowledge of precautions and hand hygiene. Conclusion: It is clear from the study that students’ knowledge about IPC measures is adequate but their practice is not satisfactory which can be improved by conducting practical sessions and workshops on IPC and multilateral strategies approach.