Department of Pharmacology, R. D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain 456006, MP, India.
Department of Global Public Health-Health Systems and Policy: Medicines, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Apr 12;20(8):5487. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20085487.
The aim of this study was to assess and compare (a) the knowledge, attitude, and practice of standard precautions (SPs), (b) the knowledge of post-exposure management, and (c) the perceived barriers underlying the noncompliance with SPs among future healthcare professionals (HCPs), i.e., students of medical and nursing courses in Central India.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017-2018 among students of a medical and a nursing college using a pretested and modified questionnaire. Data were collected during 23 face-to-face sessions. Responses were scored according to standard guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and WHO, where each correct response was given a score of 1.
Among 600 participants, 51% of medical students and 75% of nursing students could not select the correct definition of SPs from the given options. Sixty-five percent of medical students (275/423) and 82% of nursing students (145/177) were unaware of the term post-exposure prophylaxis. Overall, knowledge about personal protective equipment and hazard symbols was poor (<25%). Furthermore, although theoretical knowledge about hand hygiene was good (510/600; 85%), its implementation was poor (<30%). Sixty-four percent of participants believed that the use of hand rub replaced the need for handwashing, even for visibly soiled hands. Some of the participants believed that the use of PPE might offend patients (16%). High workload and poor knowledge were other significant barriers underlying the noncompliance with SPs.
A suboptimal translation of participants' knowledge into practice is evident and signifies the presence of the know-do gap. Poor knowledge and inappropriate presumptions about the use of SPs discourage the practice of SPs. This results in increased healthcare-associated infections, increased treatment costs, and a suppressed social economy. The inclusion of a dedicated curriculum with repeated hands-on and practice-based training on SPs is suggested to minimize this know-do gap among future healthcare workers.
本研究旨在评估和比较（a）标准预防措施（SPs）的知识、态度和实践，（b）暴露后管理的知识，以及（c）印度中部未来医疗保健专业人员（HCPs）不遵守 SPs 的潜在障碍，即医学和护理课程的学生。
2017-2018 年，在一所医学院和一所护理学院的学生中进行了一项横断面研究，使用了经过预先测试和修改的问卷。在 23 次面对面会议期间收集了数据。根据疾病控制和预防中心和世界卫生组织的标准指南对回答进行评分，其中每个正确回答得 1 分。
在 600 名参与者中，51%的医学生和 75%的护理学生无法从给出的选项中选择 SPs 的正确定义。65%的医学生（275/423）和 82%的护理学生（145/177）不知道暴露后预防这个术语。总体而言，个人防护设备和危险符号的知识很差（<25%）。此外，尽管手部卫生的理论知识很好（600 名参与者中的 510 名；85%），但其实施情况很差（<30%）。64%的参与者认为，即使是明显弄脏的手，使用手部消毒剂也可以代替洗手。一些参与者认为使用 PPE 可能会冒犯患者（16%）。工作量大、知识不足是不遵守 SPs 的其他重要障碍。
参与者的知识转化为实践的效果不理想，表明存在知行差距。对 SPs 使用的知识不足和不当假设阻碍了 SPs 的实施。这会导致医疗保健相关感染增加、治疗成本增加和社会经济受到抑制。建议在未来的医疗保健工作者中纳入专门的课程，包括有关 SPs 的重复实践和实践培训，以尽量减少这种知行差距。
