Safe hands, safer children: infection-control knowledge, attitudes and practices among paediatric nurses
TL;DR
Knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices were generally satisfactory, but direct observation revealed a substantial hand-hygiene gap, and targeted training, surveillance and institutional support are needed.
Abstract
Background: Healthcare-associated infections are a major patient-safety concern. Nursing officers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices are central to infection prevention, particularly in paediatric care. Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing officers in medical wards, surgical wards, intensive care units and operating theatres at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Sri Lanka. Of 317 selected nursing officers, 260 participated (82%). An expert-validated questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices. Hand hygiene, cannulation, intravenous drug administration and personal protective equipment use were also assessed through structured participant observation. Results: Mean knowledge was 0.71 (SD 0.08), mean attitude score was 3.95 (SD 0.58), and mean self-reported practice score was 3.81 (SD 0.56). Positive or very positive attitudes were reported by 85.4%, and positive or very positive practices by 72.5%. Knowledge varied by education, nursing grade and age; attitudes varied by marital status and age. Knowledge correlated weakly with attitude (r = 0.187), while attitude correlated moderately with practice (r = 0.349). Observed hand-hygiene compliance was 49% in surgical wards and 52% in medical wards; success rates were 60% for cannulation, 71% for intravenous drug administration and 83% for personal protective equipment use. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices were generally satisfactory, but direct observation revealed a substantial hand-hygiene gap. Targeted training, surveillance and institutional support are needed.