TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns of operating room staff towards standard and transmission-based precautions
T2 - Results of a cluster analysis
AU - Chan, Moon Fai
AU - Ho, Aly
AU - Day, Mary Christine
PY - 2008/4
Y1 - 2008/4
N2 - Aims. To examine the relationship on knowledge, attitudes and practice levels of operating room staff towards the standard precautions and transmission-based precautions, and to identify profiles of them based on their demographic variables and their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the standard precautions and the transmission-based precautions. Research method. During January 2006, 113 staff working in the operating room of a public hospital completed a self-reported questionnaire. Outcome measures. Demographic information, knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were collected. Results. Two-step cluster analysis yielded two clusters. Clusters 1 and 2 consisted of 50·4% (n = 57) and 49·6% (n = 56), respectively. Cluster 1 subjects were younger, had a higher educational attainment level and worked at a more senior level than Cluster 2 subjects. They reported good knowledge, positive attitudes and practices. Cluster 2 subjects were characterized by relatively poor knowledge, negative attitudes and practices. Significant differences towards standard and transmission-based precautions were found between clusters, except attitudes towards choosing protective personal equipment (p = 0·095) and practices on wearing gowns and eye shields/goggles (p = 0·759). Attitudes of Cluster 2 staffs were highly significant, but weakly correlated with practices (rs = 0·39, p < 0·05). Conclusion. This study clearly profiles knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns of operating room staff, which may benefit healthcare educators in planning and developing appropriate educational programmes, may help organizations to provide a safe workplace climate and may aid healthcare workers to learn the importance of personal responsibility in preventing infectious disease transmission to patients, co-workers and even themselves. Relevance to clinical practice. To date, the only protection against infection is to minimize risk by modifying behaviour and practice patterns. Education and communication play a major role of the precautions. Tailoring interventions to fit different specific groups of operating room staff is needed to improve compliance with the standard and transmission-based precautions.
AB - Aims. To examine the relationship on knowledge, attitudes and practice levels of operating room staff towards the standard precautions and transmission-based precautions, and to identify profiles of them based on their demographic variables and their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the standard precautions and the transmission-based precautions. Research method. During January 2006, 113 staff working in the operating room of a public hospital completed a self-reported questionnaire. Outcome measures. Demographic information, knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were collected. Results. Two-step cluster analysis yielded two clusters. Clusters 1 and 2 consisted of 50·4% (n = 57) and 49·6% (n = 56), respectively. Cluster 1 subjects were younger, had a higher educational attainment level and worked at a more senior level than Cluster 2 subjects. They reported good knowledge, positive attitudes and practices. Cluster 2 subjects were characterized by relatively poor knowledge, negative attitudes and practices. Significant differences towards standard and transmission-based precautions were found between clusters, except attitudes towards choosing protective personal equipment (p = 0·095) and practices on wearing gowns and eye shields/goggles (p = 0·759). Attitudes of Cluster 2 staffs were highly significant, but weakly correlated with practices (rs = 0·39, p < 0·05). Conclusion. This study clearly profiles knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns of operating room staff, which may benefit healthcare educators in planning and developing appropriate educational programmes, may help organizations to provide a safe workplace climate and may aid healthcare workers to learn the importance of personal responsibility in preventing infectious disease transmission to patients, co-workers and even themselves. Relevance to clinical practice. To date, the only protection against infection is to minimize risk by modifying behaviour and practice patterns. Education and communication play a major role of the precautions. Tailoring interventions to fit different specific groups of operating room staff is needed to improve compliance with the standard and transmission-based precautions.
KW - Infection control
KW - Nurses
KW - Nursing
KW - Theatres
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.01998.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.01998.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 18179532
AN - SCOPUS:40449107525
SN - 0962-1067
VL - 17
SP - 1051
EP - 1062
JO - Journal of Clinical Nursing
JF - Journal of Clinical Nursing
IS - 8
ER -