Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward contact isolation precautions among medical students in Shiraz, Iran

Proper behavior regarding infection control may be learned during clinical training for medical students.

Different groups of medical students at the Shiraz Medical School were asked to complete a questionnaire. The survey had 2 components: demographic inquiries and questions designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding contact isolation precautions used in Iranian hospitals.

A total of 468 (of 622) useable surveys were analyzed. Responses to knowledge and attitude questions concerning isolation precautions in general were acceptable as being in accordance with the CDC guidelines (Mean scores approximate 66.3% and 63.4% of the total possible scores, respectively). However, self-reporting behaviors indicated an overall lack of compliance with expected practices (approximately 19.1% of a total possible perfect score).

This study suggests that knowledge of transmission routes and a positive attitude toward infection control measures alone are not sufficient to induce acceptable compliance (behavior) with current recommendations.