Investigating the knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns of operating room staff towards standard and transmission-based precautions: results of a cluster analysis.

AIMS

To examine the relationship on knowledge, attitudes and practice levels of operating room staff towards the standard precautions and transmission-based precautions, and to identify profiles of them based on their demographic variables and their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the standard precautions and the transmission-based precautions.

RESEARCH METHOD

During January 2006, 113 staff working in the operating room of a public hospital completed a self-reported questionnaire. Outcome measures. Demographic information, knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were collected.

RESULTS

Two-step cluster analysis yielded two clusters. Clusters 1 and 2 consisted of 50.4% (n = 57) and 49.6% (n = 56), respectively. Cluster 1 subjects were younger, had a higher educational attainment level and worked at a more senior level than Cluster 2 subjects. They reported good knowledge, positive attitudes and practices. Cluster 2 subjects were characterized by relatively poor knowledge, negative attitudes and practices. Significant differences towards standard and transmission-based precautions were found between clusters, except attitudes towards choosing protective personal equipment (p = 0.095) and practices on wearing gowns and eye shields/goggles (p = 0.759). Attitudes of Cluster 2 staffs were highly significant, but weakly correlated with practices (r(s) = 0.39, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study clearly profiles knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns of operating room staff, which may benefit healthcare educators in planning and developing appropriate educational programmes, may help organizations to provide a safe workplace climate and may aid healthcare workers to learn the importance of personal responsibility in preventing infectious disease transmission to patients, co-workers and even themselves. Relevance to clinical practice. To date, the only protection against infection is to minimize risk by modifying behaviour and practice patterns. Education and communication play a major role of the precautions. Tailoring interventions to fit different specific groups of operating room staff is needed to improve compliance with the standard and transmission-based precautions.