Abstract:
Universal Precaution (UP) is a set of guidelines which aims to
protect health care workers from infections. Compliance to the UP is often
minimal in low income countries, in spite of greater risk of infection. A cross
sectional study was conducted to study the knowledge and compliance of
UP and factors that influence the compliance among the nurses in the
medical wards, Jaffna Teaching Hospital by a self administrated
questionnaire. The first part assessed the knowledge, marked out of 100%.
The degree of compliance was assessed through the second part and marked
out of 100%. The third part inquired about the factors that influence the
compliance. The data were analyzed by chi squared test. The mean for
knowledge was 71.8% (SD±14.3), mean for males and females were 67%
(SD±13.5) and 74.8% (SD±14.1) (p=0.24) respectively, mean of 20-30 year age
group was 73.3%, 31-40 years was 74.6% and mean for older age group 41-50
and 51-60 were 65.6% and 66.8% respectively (p=0.72). Working experience
did not show statistically significant relationship (p=0.259). The mean for
compliance was 74.1% (SD±14.9). Age (p=0.987), sex (p=0.921), and working
experience (p=0.990) did not show statistically significant relationship. In
this study 57% of Nurses had needle recapping habit, which is considered as
an important factor that predisposes nurses for hospital infection. Regarding
factors influencing the compliance of UP, fear of being infected influenced
positively and poor material availability (67%), excessive work load (59%),
psychological effect on the patient especially in using mask (45%), and
emergency situations (40%) negatively influence the compliance of UP. To
protect the health care workers and as well as the patients, 100% compliance
is necessary. This study has identified that knowledge and compliance of
nurses in the medical wards of the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna is not up to
expected levels. Some factors that may be responsible for this also are
identified. There is a need to review the nursing curriculum with greater
emphasis on UP. In-service training programs for nursing staff on UP is also
recommended as indicated by some respondents in the open comment.
