Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Hand Hygiene Among Nursing Students and Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Survey

Area of Science:

• Healthcare-associated infection prevention
• Nursing education and practice

Background:

• Low adherence to hand hygiene practices is a significant contributor to preventable healthcare-associated infections.
• Understanding perceptions of hand hygiene is vital for improving patient safety and infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare attitudes toward hand hygiene and prevention methods between nursing students and registered nurses.
• To identify factors influencing hand hygiene perceptions in an academic and clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative survey design was employed.
• The World Health Organization's 'Perceptions Survey for Health-Care Workers' was administered to 201 nursing students and registered nurses.
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey responses.

Main Results:

• Nursing students reported higher perceived importance of hand hygiene and related interventions compared to registered nurses.
• Students emphasized the need for accessible disinfectants, ongoing education, and supportive leadership.
• Both groups recognized the importance of management support, feedback, and organizational policies for optimal hand hygiene.

Conclusions:

• Differences in perceptions highlight the necessity of continuous education and strong managerial support to sustain hand hygiene adherence.
• Integrating effective strategies in educational curricula and clinical settings can enhance patient safety.
• Sustaining positive attitudes from training into practice is essential for reducing infections.