Effectiveness of Educational Program on Knowledge about Infection Control Measures among the Nursing Students

Abbreviations

IPC: Infection Prevention and Control; HAI’s: Hospital Acquired Infections.

Introduction

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a practical, evidence-based approach preventing patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections. At all tiers of the health system including politicians, facility administrators, healthcare providers, and patients continuous activity is necessary for effective IPC [1]. The main goals of infection control programs were to concentrate on HAI surveillance and integrate fundamental epidemiological knowledge to clarify risk factors for HAIs. However, most of the infection control programs were organized and managed by large academic centers rather than public health agencies which lead to sporadic efficiency and suboptimal outcomes [2]. A study found person, task, and organizational level factors were the primary barriers and facilitators to infection control at this hospital. High rates of nursing staff turnover, the time required to train new hires, language competency issues, and intense clinical workloads were among the main obstacles.. A well-developed infection control team and an institutional climate that prioritizes infection control were major facilitators [3]. Gupta R, et al. [4] revealed overall score for infection control practices was low, with knowledge score being 51%. The gaps were identified across all components with major gaps in the knowledge of care of devices (74%), barrier nursing/isolation precautions (60%), indications of using hand rub (55%), understanding the meaning of healthcare-associated infections, AMR (50%) and optimum use of personnel protective equipment (44%) [4]. Kanwar V, et al. [5] found that knowledge regarding biomedical waste management (76%) could be labelled as good knowledge. Hospital acquired infections accounted for the least amount of familiarity for the nurses (26.2%). Overall there was moderate knowledge about hand hygiene (47.1%), sterilization and disinfection techniques (44.9%) and infection control practices in the ward (46.6%) [5]. Goyal M, et al. [6] found significant difference in the scores of pretests and posttests and also statistically significant difference in scores of all 3 domains- Nosocomial infections, Standard Precautions and Hand Hygiene. The results suggest that educational and training programs have positive impact on knowledge of HCS regarding nosocomial infections, standard precautions, and hand hygiene [6]. Rabiu, et al. [7] also indicated the respondents’ knowledge mean score before and after the intervention differed significantly (t=- 22.96, p = 0.00). Majority of the respondent had moderate knowledge about infection control measures, but they showed lack of skill prior intervention but was noted to increase significantly during post intervention [7]. The investigators during their clinical experience observed that the incidence of nosocomial infection increased because of unhygienic practices. This will increase the length of stay in hospital and increase the healthcare assonated infection. These things provoked us to select the following topic for the study to improve the knowledge of nursing students regarding infection control.

Statement of Problem

“A study to evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching program on knowledge about infection control measures among nursing students of selected nursing institutes at Udaipur Rajasthan”.

Objectives

• To assess the level of knowledge regarding infection control measures among nursing students of selected nursing institutes at Udaipur.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of structure teaching program on level of knowledge regarding infection control measures among nursing students.
• To find out the association of the pre-test knowledge score of nursing students regarding infection control measures with their selected demographic variables.

Results

According to Table 1, out of 60 nursing students, 88.33% nursing students were in the age group of 19-21 years, 11.67% were in the age group of 22-24 years. Majority of nursing students 60% were male and 86.67% nursing students were from Hindu religion. As per Course of study, 66.67% nursing students were from B.sc Nursing Part-I and only 38.33% nursing students had attended seminar, conference or workshop regarding infection control measures.

Figure 1, Depicts the distribution of pre – test and post – test scores of knowledge regarding infection control measures. In pre – test majority of nursing students 51 (85 %) had inadequate knowledge level and 9 (15%) had moderately adequate knowledge level while in post- test majority 33 (55%) of nursing students had adequate knowledge level and 27 (45%) had moderately adequate knowledge level regarding infection control measures.

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Table 2, while comparing in between pre-test and post- test level of knowledge among nursing students regarding infection control measures, mean pre-test knowledge score was 14.02 and mean post-test score was 23.87. Mean difference was 9.85. It shows that there is significant difference between the pre-test and post-test level of knowledge regarding infection control measures among nursing students. The Paired ‘t’ test value was 33.0914 was greater than table value (2.00 at df-59) at 0.05 level of significance. It shows that there is significant difference between the pre- test and post-test level of knowledge regarding infection control measures among nursing students.

The data in Table 3 shows that there is no significant association between level of knowledge and selected demographic variables such as age, gender, religion, course of study, attended any conference and workshop regarding infection control measures, at < 0.05 level. As all demographic variables was not associated with the knowledge level of the nursing students.

Discussion

The present study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of structured teaching program on knowledge about infection control measures among nursing students. The key focus of the present study was infection control measures as many studies and reports revealed prevalence of poor knowledge among health care workers. Findings of the study revealed that in pre-test majority of nursing students 85 % had inadequate knowledge level and 15% had moderately adequate knowledge level and none of the nursing students had scored good level of knowledge regarding infection control measures. Our study findings were supported by a study conducted by Eskander H, et al. [8]

with similar objectives and findings which were that 63.6% of samples had unsatisfactory knowledge level regarding infection control standard precautions among clinical nurses. Our findings were partially supported by study conducted by Al-Ahmari AM, et al. [9] in which one third of participants (31.6%) had poor knowledge about infection control. A research study conducted by Kanwar V, et al. [5] also revealed that participants had moderate knowledge about hand hygiene (47.1%), sterilization and disinfection techniques (44.9%) and infection control practices in the ward (46.6%).

Our study also found that in post-test majority 33 (55%) of nursing students had adequate knowledge level and 27

(45%) had moderately adequate knowledge level. Gaikwad UN, et al. [10] also found average percentage of test score increased significantly from 19.71% (pre-test score) to 76.69% (post-test score). Raj MAM, et al. [11] also found 18% student nurses had good knowledge score and 82% had average knowledge score in post-test regarding prevention of hospital acquired infection.

In our study mean pre-test knowledge score was 14.02 and mean post-test knowledge score was 23.87. Mean difference was 9.85. The Paired ‘t’ test value was 33.09 was greater than table value (df-59) at .05 level of significance. Our study finding supported by study conducted by Priya M, et al. [12] in which effectiveness of structured teaching programme was established regarding knowledge and practice on infection control measures in labour room among the nursing students. Similar findings of effectiveness of educational intervention on level of knowledge regarding Hospital Acquired Infections were revealed by a study conducted by Degavi G. et al. [13]. Aby AR [14] also found effectiveness of structured teaching programme regarding knowledge on nosocomial infections in newborns among the staff nurses. Tak HK, et al. [15] also found effectiveness of educational intervention in their study. Our study found that there was no significant association between pre-test knowledge score regarding infection control measures among nursing students with demographic variables like age, gender, religion, course of study and attended of any seminar, conference or workshop regarding infection control measures. Our findings were supported by a study conducted by Meera Raj MAM, et al. [11]. Our findings were partially supported by a study conducted by Hiremath S, et al. [16]. Gupta MM, et al. [17] also revealed no significant association between pre-test knowledge score regarding Prevention of Nosocomial Infections among B.Sc. nursing 1st Year Student.

While contradictory findings revealed by Narasimhaiah J, et al. [18] in which significant association between post- test knowledge scores and selected demographic variables was revealed regarding prevention of nosocomial infection among staff nurses. Saini P [19] also found significant association of knowledge level with demographic variables. Some studies by Anjali M, et al. [20] and Kumar S, et al [21], Singh M, et al. [22] and Pareek S, et al. [23] also revealed that learning packages were effective in enhancing the knowledge of the participants.

Conclusion

The study concluded that structured teaching program was effective in enhancing knowledge level of nursing students regarding infection control measures. This study also showed that there was no significant association between the knowledge score and the demographic variables. Study suggests regular educational intervention to improve knowledge level of nursing students and other direct health care provider staff regarding infection control measures.

Limitations

The small size of the sample made it difficult to draw generalization; Purposive sampling technique was used for conducting this study which restricts the generalization of result.

Source of Funding

The current study was self-financed by the researcher.

Conflict of Interest

The current study was carried out without any conflicts of interest.