-
Knowledge And Perception Of Nosocomial Infection Among Health Workers And Resident
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 7]
Page 4 of 7
-
-
-
Explicitly, more than half of the contacts were
carried out by nurses (Cohen, et aI., 2003). In the light of these
statistics, it is incumbent upon healthcare workers to enhance their
knowledge of options as regards the alleviation of the transmission of
nosocomial infections. It has been documented in the literature that at
the time of their graduation from their
professional education programs, nurses should have acquired sufficient knowledge to practice
patient safety and infection control guidelines (Smith et aI., 2007; Cronenwett et aI., 2007).
Besides, their expertise with regards to knowledge, attitudes and practice to control the spread
of infection is also well evidenced by their success in licensure exams and other significant
assessments,
which test their knowledge of infection control practices and the
application of skilled safe patient care activities, over the course of
their academic journey (Sherwood et aI., 2007; Smith, 2007). hence, the
continued presence of nosocomial infections raises an enigma which may
only be explained by other factors. fascinatingly, studies that
investigated the responsibility of institutional support and the spread
of nosocomial infections showed that low staffing levels lead to high
workload and increased healthcare workers’ non-compliance with
recommended hand hygiene practices (Huggonet et aI., 2007). Furthermore,
existing studies show that the lack of proper equipment and
surveillance systems for the monitoring of infections further increased
the episodes of nosocomial infections (Monarca et aI., 2000; Chen et
aI., 2003, Garretson et aI., 2004; Lo et aI., 2008 & Saint et aI.,
2008). Thus, it is plausible that this paradox could be explained
through a thorough examination of socio-cognitive perspectives with
regards to knowledge; or behavioral aspects such as attitude that could
affect the healthcare workers’ on-the- job practice; or ecological
factors that include organizational support or architectural design of
healthcare facility.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
On the whole,
accessible data show that needle stick injuries and blood borne
pathogens are serious threats to patients, HCWs (Healthcare workers)
and to the host community.
Health workers , regardless of specialty,
engage in the most direct contact with clients in healthcare settings.
Also, existing literature has documented specific examples where nurses
are implicated in the transmission of nosocomial infections {Casewell
&Phillips, 1977; Ehrenkranz et aI., 1991; Lucent et aI., 2002;
Waters et al., 2004; Lepelletier et al., 2005; de-Oliveira et aI.,
2005;Pessoa-Silva et aI., 2007). A review of literature has shown that
health workers educational programs incorporate courses and
instructional approaches that include methods aimed at preparing the
Health care practitioner in protocols designed for infection control and
as such the reduction and transmission of nosocomial infections.
Furthermore, their expertise with regards to knowledge, attitudes and
practice to control the spread of infections is well evidenced by their
success in licensure exams and relevant assessments over the course of
their academic journey (Sherwood et aI., 2007; Smith, 2007).
Paradoxically, the evidence highlights otherwise: that is, unabated
levels of the spread of nosocomial infections (Anderson et aI., 2009;
Scott II, 2009) and the role of healthcare workers including nurses, in
the transmission of nosocomial infections (Pittet et aI., 2004; Miner et
aI., 2004; Eriksen et aI., 2009; Racca et aI., 2009; Costello et aI.,
2010). Additionally, there is some evidence that suggests that the
spread of nosocomial infections could be related to a breakdown in
knowledge, attitude and practices among healthcare workers (Godin 1996;
Pessoa-Silva et aI., 2005; Pittet et aI., 2006). What has not been
established is if thisbreakdown is prevalent in novice registered
nurses, suggesting the novice registered nurses’ inability to apply
their knowledge in awork setting, or that it is in the more experienced
registered nurses, suggesting either adecrement of knowledge (Ribby et
aI., 2005; Lam et aI., 2004; PessoaSilva et aI., 2007; Suchitra et aI.,
2007; Sax et aI., 2007) or a change in attitude and or sloppy practices
possibly associated with stressful behavioral interactions with
colleagues, workload or other organizational factors (Godin, 1996;
Larson et aI., 2000; O’Boyle et aI., 2001; Chenot & Daniel, 2010).
With health workers having the most contacts with patients,
understanding their knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns with
regard to nosocomial infections may be an important mode by which this
health care issue may be addressed.
This study will expose the level
of awareness, attitude and practice of standard precautions among the
HCWs and hence could be used as a baseline for intervention. It will
also identify gaps which would be recommended for correction through
interventions. This study could be used to monitor trends of events
concerning knowledge, attitude and understanding among health care
workers in Egor, Edo State, by reviewing from time to time, the
incidence of needle stick injuries and the morbidity and mortality
pattern. It will also identify gaps in the standard precaution
practices among these HCWs and the results from the study will be used
for the planning of health education intervention programme. It will
also provide reference material for the academic society as well as
further research.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 7]
Page 4 of 7
-
-
ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) continue to be a threat to hospital admissions and workers thus contributing to mortalities and morbidities. Sophistication and type of services given by health facilities may determine health worker’s attitude towards combating these infections. The objective of this study is to compare knowledge, attitude and practice of HAIs among health workers at the three levels of health care in Nigeria, particularly the primary level that has to do with the resi ... Continue reading---
