Determinants of nurses' adherence to universal precautions for venipunctures

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Universal Precautions (UPs) are critical for preventing infections during patient care.
• Nurses' adherence to UPs during venipuncture is essential but can be variable.
• Understanding factors influencing adherence is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To predict and explain the adherence of registered nurses to Universal Precautions (UPs) during venipuncture procedures.
• To identify psychosocial variables influencing nurses' intention and behavior regarding UPs adherence.
• To explore the relationship between perceived barriers, social norms, and adherence to UPs.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 156 registered nurses completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing psychosocial variables at baseline.
• Behavioral adherence to UPs during venipuncture was self-reported at a 3-month follow-up.
• Regression analyses were used to predict intention and adherence based on psychosocial factors.

Main Results:

• Perceived barriers, social norm, and personal normative belief significantly predicted intention to adhere to UPs (adjusted R(2) = 0.68).
• Intention and perceived behavioral control explained 28% of the variance in UPs adherence at 3-month follow-up.
• Significant differences in normative beliefs and perceived barriers were observed between high and low intenders.

Conclusions:

• Perception of control is a key factor influencing nurses' adherence to UPs.
• Perceived difficulties in adhering to UPs are linked to nurses' training and suboptimal working conditions.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing perceived control and addressing systemic barriers to improve UPs adherence.