J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2012 Aug;19(3):302-312.

Factors Influencing Compliance with Standard Precautions in Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room Nurses

• Lee K
• Kim H
• Lee YW
• Ham OK

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of knowledge, attitude and compliance with standard precautions and to identify predicting factors of compliance with standard precautions in ICU and ER nurses.
METHODS
The participants were 228 ICU and ER nurses working in one of three university hospitals and one general hospital. Collected data included general characteristics, features related to infection risk, and knowledge, attitude and compliance with standard precautions. For the final analysis, 218 questionnaires were used.
RESULTS
Within the previous one year, 103 (47.3%) nurses experienced pricking injury from syringe needles or other sharp materials, 111 (50.9%) nurses reported exposure to patients' blood and body fluid. In general, the scores for knowledge, attitude and compliance were all high. Compliance scores for nurses in intensive care units were significantly higher than those of nurses in emergency. There were significant correlations of knowledge, attitude, and compliance with standard precautions. Attitude and work place were significant factors predicting compliance with standard precautions.
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that to increase nurse's compliance with standard precautions, continuous efforts to enhance positive attitudes and at the same time, improve work environments and use individualized approaches based on the work units are needed.

Keyword

Knowledge; Attitude; Compliance; Infection; Precautions

MeSH Terms

Body Fluids
Compliance
Emergencies
Hospitals, General
Hospitals, University
Hypogonadism
Critical Care
Intensive Care Units
Mitochondrial Diseases
Needles
Ophthalmoplegia
Surveys and Questionnaires
Syringes
Workplace
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia