A study on nurses knowledge, attitude and practices of infection prevention and control at a private hospital in Namibia

Date
2020-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Healthcare-associated infections (nosocomial) are one of the leading adverse events within the healthcare sector worldwide. They are linked to an increasing number of morbidities and mortalities, an increased length of hospital stay and subsequent physiological, psychological and financial burden on the patient, their family, and the healthcare facility. In order to reduce these rates, consistent compliance with an effective infection prevention and control (IPC) programme is vital. It is for this reason that the purpose of this study was to determine nurses’ knowledge, attitude and IPC practices as these influence compliance of the IPC programme. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted in a Namibian private hospital. The target population (n=122) included all categories of nurses. Non-probability convenient sampling was done to ensure that all the nurses who were on duty during the data collection period were given opportunity to participate in the study. Data were collected from n = 90 (86%) of the target population. The data instrument was a questionnaire, which was adopted from a similar study in Nepal. A pilot test was conducted to determine the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Stellenbosch’s healthcare research ethics committee, and the private hospital’s clinical research ethics committee. Results: The majority n=72 (80 %) of participants had adequate knowledge of IPC; n=76 (84.4%) had a positive attitude towards IPC and n=36 (40%) complied with the IPC practice. With regards to the relationship between the level of knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and control practices: of the participants (n= 72, 80%) with adequate knowledge, (n=7, 9.7%) have a significant negative attitude towards IPC (p = 0.002) and (n=38, 52.8%) are non-compliant with IPC practices (p=0.005) as well as participants with a positive attitude (n=76, 84.4%), (n=46, 60. 5%) are non-compliant with IPC practices (p=0.364, no relationship). Conclusion: The participants (nurses) had adequate knowledge and a positive attitude towards IPC. However, efforts should focus on improving their compliance of the IPC practice. It is recommended that IPC training should focus on information sharing, as well as on psychological motivation, in order to lead to a change in IPC behaviour.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Agtergrond: Gesondheidsorg se geassosieerde infeksies (GGIs) is wêreldwyd een van die voorste ongunstige gebeure binne die gesondheidsorgsektor. Dit word gekoppel aan ‘n toenemende aantal gevalle van morbiditeit en mortaliteit, ‘n toename in die lengte van hospitaalverblyf en gevolglike fisiologiese, psigologiese en finansiële las op die pasiënt, die familie en die gesondheidsorg fasiliteit. Ten einde die koers te verlaag, is volgehoue nakoming van ‘n effektiewe infeksie voorkoming en beheer (IVB)-program belangrik. Dit is om hierdie rede dat die navorser hierdie navorsingstudie onderneem het, om die verpleegsters se kennis, gesindheid en IVB praktyke te bepaal, want dit het ‘n invloed op die nakoming van IVB program. Metode: ‘n Kwantitatiewe, beskrywende studie is in ‘n privaathospitaal in Namibië gedoen. Die teikenbevolking het al die kategorieë van verpleegsters, N = 122 ingesluit. ‘n Onwaarskynlikgerieflikheidssteekproef is gedoen om te verseker dat al die verpleegsters ‘n gelyke geleentheid gebied word om aan die studie deel te neem. Data is gekollekteer van n = 90 (86%) van die teikenbevolking. Die instrument wat gebruik is vir data-insameling is van ‘n soortgelyke studie nagevolg wat in Nepal gedoen is. ‘n Loodstudie is gedoen om die betroubaarheid en geldigheid van die vraelys vas te stel. Etiese goedkeuring is van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Gesondheidsnavorsing Etiekkomitee (Verwysingsnommer: S17/08/152), en van die privaathospitaal se Kliniese Navorsingsetiekkomitee verkry. Resultate: Die meerderheid n = 72 (80%) van die deelnemers het voldoende kennis van IVB; n = 76 (84.4%) het 'n positiewe houding teenoor IVB en n = 36 (40%) het aan die IVB-praktyk voldoen. Wat die verband tussen die kennis-, houding- en infeksievoorkomings- en -beheerpraktyke betref: van die deelnemers (n = 72, 80%) met voldoende kennis, (n = 7, 9,7%) het 'n beduidende negatiewe gesindheid teenoor IVB ( p = 0,002) en (n = 38, 52,8%) voldoen nie aan IVB-praktyke nie (p=0.005) sowel as deelnemers met 'n positiewe houding (n = 76, 84,4%), (n = 46, 60. 5%) voldoen nie aan IVB-praktyke nie (p = 0.364, geen verhouding). Slotsom: Na aanleiding van die resultate het die verpleegsters genoegsame kennis en ‘n positiewe houding oor IVB. Desnieteenstaande die pogings, behoort die fokus op die verbetering van die nakoming ten opsigte van die IVB praktyk te wees. Daar word dus aanbeveel dat IVB-opleiding nie alleenlik op die verspreiding van inligting moet wees nie, maar ook op psigologiese motivering wat sal lei tot gedragsverandering.
Description
Thesis (MNur)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
Keywords
Infection -- Prevention -- Practice -- Namibia, Nurses -- Knowledge and learning -- Namibia, Nurses -- Attitudes -- Namibia, Nursing -- Infection prevention -- Namibia, Health facilities, Proprietary -- Namibia, UCTD
Citation