[Medical Clinics Infection Control Status Survey Operation System]

To identify the current status and barriers of infection control in medical clinics in the Republic of Korea and establish foundational data for infection control support policies, the infection control survey system for hospital-level institutions during the first cycle was revised. Limitations of the self-administered online survey method (computer-assisted self-interviewing) were addressed by transitioning to an on-site survey format. The survey aimed to generate nationally representative statistics by ensuring the reliability and representativeness of infection control survey results from medical clinics. Stratified random sampling proportionally allocated samples according to the survey population ratio, selecting a final sample of 600 clinics based on regional and clinic characteristics. Infection control experts conducted on-site visits, verified documents, observed procedures, and interviewed staff. A staff survey assessed awareness of infection control to enhance policy acceptance. Of 34,958 medical clinics, 4,501 clinics (12.9%) participated in the online survey. Among these, 87.2% of staff indicated a need for infection control education, and 99.6% agreed on the effectiveness of hand hygiene in preventing healthcare-associated infections. Key educational topics identified were hand hygiene, safe injection practices, and measures for patients with infectious diseases. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to establish infection control surveys as a national survey system by improving on-site survey participation and ensure data reliability, addressing limitations identified during the operation of the infection control survey for medical clinics.