Effect of Education Intervention on Prevention of Bloodborne Infections for Health Care Workers in Family Medicine Centers , Suez Canal University in Ismailia City , Egypt

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at particular risk for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Objective: to assess the effect of education intervention on knowledge, attitude and practice of (compliance with) preventive measures of bloodborne infections (BBIs) by health care workers. Methods: The study was a pre-post quasi- experimental intervention. It was conducted between June and October 2015 in 3 family medicine centers with affliation to Suez Canal University in Ismailia city. Sample was convenient; it included all 82 healthcare workers (family physicians, laboratory technicians, nurses and janitors). Knowledge and attitude were evaluated by a questionnaire. Practice was assessed by observation. Educational training intervention was designed and conducted by the researchers about the common BBIs and standard precautions (SPs) based on guidelines. Results: Statistically significant difference was found between pre and post intervention in means of knowledge, attitude, practice and overall KAP scores of all HCWs (P < 0.001) with large effect size Cohen's d more than .8. The highest median scores of all SPs in pre intervention were for no needle recapping (Mdn=100) with significant difference between pre and post intervention (P <0.001). Conclusions: Continuous periodic education on standard precautions is recommended to cover areas for improvements in knowledge such as alcohol rubbing, that is not the required action on exposure to body fluids and the recommended time of hand washing (40-60 seconds); attitude towards revising guidelines and ensuring availability of infection control supplies; and ensure compliance with hand hygiene, sharps handling, decontamination of spills and wearing gowns.