Assessment of Health Care Workers’ Knowledge and Practice Toward Infection Standard Precautions in Primary Health Care setting, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess knowledge of standard precautions (SPs) and infection control by healthcare workers (HCWs) at the primary healthcare level in Buraidah City, Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study enrolled HCWs (doctors, nurses, lab workers) from 20 primary healthcare (PHC) centers in Buraidah. Two-hundred participants were selected randomly to participate in this study. Data was collected by a pretested, self-administered questionnaire, containing 29 items about basic knowledge of components of SPs and infection control including hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, sharps disposal, environmental sanitation and care of healthcare providers. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS. Results: The mean age of HCWs was 35.7 (SD±6.6) years. Females represented (51.5%) of the study participants. History of receiving formal training in standard infection control precaution in the last three years was mentioned by almost two-thirds (68.5%) of them. About 102 (51.0%) of the HCWs had adequate level of knowledge (>5 correct answers) regarding standard precautions(SPs) of infection control. The younger (p=0.020), non-Saudi healthcare workers (p<0.001), physicians (p<0.001); particularly consultants (p=0.018), were more knowledgeable than their counterparts. The barriers of improper use of PPEs reported by HCWs were uncomfortable (61.5%), some patients feel stigmatized when PPEs are used (60.5%), shortage in items at PHCC (54%) and workload due to patients’ over-crowding (49%). Conclusion: Generally the study finding revealed adequate knowledge of SPs among the study participants. However, inadequate knowledge particularly concerning the disposal of sharp instruments and hand hygiene were also detected. These findings highlighted the necessity of the provision of a comprehensive training program to ensure compliance with infection control measures by HCWs. Key words: knowledge, practice, infection standard precautions, primary health care