TY - JOUR
T1 - Perception and practices of standard precautions among health care professionals at tertiary care hospitals in coastal South India
AU - Holla, Ramesh
AU - Kanchan, Tanuj
AU - Kumar, Nithin
AU - Unnikrishnan, B.
AU - Rekha, T.
AU - Mithra, Prasanna
AU - Kulkarni, Vaman
AU - Darshan, Bhagawan Bhagyamma
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objectives: Health care professionals are constantly exposed to blood and other body fluids in the course of their work. Standard precautions are a simple set of effective practices designed to protect health workers and patients from infections. Hence, the present study was undertaken to know the extent of occupational exposure, perception and the reasons for noncompliance towards practice of standard precautions among the health care professionals. Methods: A cross sectional study was done among health care professionals working in four tertiary care teaching hospitals. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information related to socio demographic details, history related to occupational exposure to blood/ body fluids, risk perception, perception and practice of standard precautions and the reasons for non-compliance of standard precautions. Data analysis was done by using SPSS Version 11.5 and results obtained were expressed in proportions. Chi square test was used to compare the perception, practices and reasons for non-compliance of standard precautions among doctors and nurses. P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The perception regarding standard precautions was generally observed to be good among health care professionals in the study and the application of this knowledge however, in day to day practice was considerably lower. The most common reason for non-compliance towards practice of standard precautions among healthcare professionals was prioritizing the patient's need in emergency conditions and their busy work schedule. Conclusion: Non-compliance to standard precautions despite of the knowledge of the possibility of acquiring hazardous infections is a serious cause of concern.
AB - Objectives: Health care professionals are constantly exposed to blood and other body fluids in the course of their work. Standard precautions are a simple set of effective practices designed to protect health workers and patients from infections. Hence, the present study was undertaken to know the extent of occupational exposure, perception and the reasons for noncompliance towards practice of standard precautions among the health care professionals. Methods: A cross sectional study was done among health care professionals working in four tertiary care teaching hospitals. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information related to socio demographic details, history related to occupational exposure to blood/ body fluids, risk perception, perception and practice of standard precautions and the reasons for non-compliance of standard precautions. Data analysis was done by using SPSS Version 11.5 and results obtained were expressed in proportions. Chi square test was used to compare the perception, practices and reasons for non-compliance of standard precautions among doctors and nurses. P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The perception regarding standard precautions was generally observed to be good among health care professionals in the study and the application of this knowledge however, in day to day practice was considerably lower. The most common reason for non-compliance towards practice of standard precautions among healthcare professionals was prioritizing the patient's need in emergency conditions and their busy work schedule. Conclusion: Non-compliance to standard precautions despite of the knowledge of the possibility of acquiring hazardous infections is a serious cause of concern.
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84897934613
SN - 0974-2441
VL - 7
SP - 101
EP - 104
JO - Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research
JF - Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research
IS - 2
ER -