Infection Control and Prevention Awareness Among Intensive and Cardiac Care Nurses: Implications for Managers and...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Effective infection control and prevention are critical in intensive care units (ICUs) to minimize healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
• Assessing healthcare professionals' awareness is a key step in identifying gaps in infection control knowledge and practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the awareness of infection control and prevention strategies among intensive care nurses in Saudi Arabia.
• To identify specific areas of knowledge deficit in infection control among critical care nursing staff.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 82 intensive and cardiac care unit nurses.
• Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire covering demographics and infection control training.
• Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were employed to interpret the findings.

Main Results:

• A significant majority (95.1%) of nurses demonstrated unsatisfactory awareness of hospital-acquired infections.
• Awareness levels for hand hygiene (59.8%) and standard precautions (58.5%) were higher but still suboptimal for many.
• Overall, approximately one-quarter of nurses had unsatisfactory awareness regarding comprehensive infection control measures.

Conclusions:

• While nurses generally understood standard precautions, a notable gap exists in their awareness of hospital-acquired infections and broader infection control principles.
• A significant correlation was found between nurses' educational attainment and their workplace awareness of infection control measures.
• Implementing targeted, evidence-based educational interventions and regular training is recommended to enhance nurses' knowledge and adherence to best practices.