Nurses' Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Perceived Barriers of Infection Control Measures in The Intensive Care Units at North West Bank Hospitals رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The foremost challenge encountered by patients in intensive care units is nosocomial infections (N1S). The heightened prevalence of NIS among ICU is related to prolonged hospital stays, reduced immunity, and prolonged time in intensive care units. This has a bstantial impact on their prognosis. Nurses need to be more knowledgeable and attentive to infection control measures and their practice. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assess nurses' knowledge, attitude, practice and perceived barriers of infection control measures in the Intensive care units at the North West Bank Hospitals. Methodology : Quantitative cross-sectional and observational design. The sample was conducted from October of 2023 to November of 2023, using a self-administration questionnaire and checklist for nurses who work in ICUs hospitals found in North West Bank-selected governmental hospitals (131 1CU nurse). After collecting the data was analyzed to SPSS version 23. Results: The recent research revealed 49 participant (42.6%) have moderate knowledge level and 30 participant (26.1%( have high lknowledge level of the infection control and 36 )31.3%) have low knowledge. Depending on variables including age, gender, work shift, job position, educational level, marital status, and professional experience, there were certain differences and variations among the staff members. However, the attitude level of the infection control revealed that 39 (33.9%) have Neutral attitude level and 73(63.5%) have Positive attitude level. The practice level of the infection control revealed that 16 (27.1%( have fair practice level and 43 )72.9%) have good practice level. Nursing staff listed the barriers to achieving infection standards, followed by reasons: lack of equipment (26.1%(, lack of training courses on infection control )17.4%), visitors (7.0%(, lack of infection control policies and standards )6.1%). lack of isolation room (5.2%( and workload )5.2%). Conclusion: The majority of nurses in the current study had good practice level, a positive attitude toward infection prevention and moderate knowledge of infection control, The major barriers of Infection Control Measures were lack of equipment, lack of training courses and visitors. Recommendations: Providing the necessary equipment to implement infection prevention standards, improving nurses' knowledge and skills through ongoing in-service training programs, working to adjust visiting times for patients and lhe number of visitors, providing the necessary protocols for all manifestations of infection in care and explaining them to the staff on a regular basis, working to provide isolation standards and appropriate design for intensive care units, reducing workload, Universities are required to add study materials that talk about infection and how to deal with it in their curriculum. Adding more females to the intensive care departments and involving them in the training programs due to the presence of a higher percentage of males in ICUSs. It’s appropriate to Conduct a study on the practice and application of infection protocols among females in ICUs and male a comparison to male practice to clear the gap. MOH should male more supervision on training programs and their quality on the target group, as the results showed that there is no difference between trained and untrained nurses.