Assessment of nurses' practices toward infection control standardized precautions in Azady Teaching Hospital in the city of Kirkuk

Abstract EN

Objective : The aim of the present study is to assess the practices of nurses towards standard precautions at Azady Teaching Hospital in the City of Kirkuk.

Methodology : A descriptive study, which uses the assessment approach and it was conducted on nurses from January 18th, 2009 to September 30th, 2009, using non-probability sampling a purposive sample of (37) subject (male and female nurses) who worked at surgical wards in Azady Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk city was selected.

Two study instruments were utilized for proper data collection [questionnaire and observational checklist] ; a questionnaire was developed for the purpose of the study.

It was comprised of two parts which included the nurses' demographic characteristics and Information related to the setting of the sample (surgical wards).

A pilot study was carried out for the period of January 18th, 2009, to February 2nd, 2009 to determine the observational checklist reliability through the use of (Inter–rater).

A panel of (19) experts was involved in the determination of the observational checklist content validity.

Data were analyzed through the application of descriptive statistical data analysis approach (frequency, percentage, mean of scores and standard deviation), and inferential data analysis approach (chi-square).

Results : The study findings revealed that the majority (91.9 %) of the nurses did not get training sessions regarding infection control and (83.4 %) of them had not participated continuous learning about infection control.

According to the level of practices towards standard precautions, it has revealed that poor practices of standard precautions by surgical wards nurses had shown in surgical wards.