Knowledge and Compliance with Standard Precaution among Critical Care Nurses

Abstract

Critical care nurses are the health care professionals who have the compulsion to protect critically ill patients against infection especially those who are immune compromised, in order to enhance their recovery, prevent deterioration in their health, and achieve high quality nursing care. Therefore, critical care nurses should have sound knowledge and strict adherence to infection control standard precautions. The objective of the study is to evaluate the level of knowledge and compliance towards standard precaution. A descriptive cross-sectional research design and non-probability purposive sampling with self-administered questionnaire was adopted among 81 critical care nurses of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Phulbari-11. The obtained data was coded and entered in SPSS program version 23 with descriptive and inferential statistics. The study depicted that more than half of respondent (59.3%) had adequate knowledge and (40.7%) had inadequate knowledge. Majority of the respondent had high compliance (mean= 3.93) and average compliance (mean= 3.44). The use of protective suit or gown had low compliance (mean=2.17) and use of eye patch or goggle had very low compliance (mean=1.37). This study shows significant association between knowledge and compliance with standard precaution. Teaching approaches must be focused toward intensifying further compliance especially with the use of protective equipment. Furthermore, environment that promotes standard precaution practices should be developed by the faculty.