Hand hygiene; how much the medical students know? assessment the knowledge and attitude toward hand hygiene among under and post graduated medical students during 2017.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Department of Emergency medicine, Mashhad University of Medical sciences

2 Associated professor, Department of pediatrics, Mashhad University of Medical sciences

3 professor, Department of biostatics, Mashhad University of Medical sciences.

4 Assistant professor, Department of occupational medicine, Mashhad University of Medical sciences.

5 Emergency Medicine specialist

6 Medical Assistant, Department of Emergency medicine, Mashhad University of Medical sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Hand hygiene is considered the most important measure to reduce the healthcare associated infections. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude level toward hand hygiene.


Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out. Two groups of medical students of Mashhad university of medical sciences during 2017 entered the study via convenient sampling method (the medical students at the beginning of the clinical training and the medical residents at the beginning of the residency). The demographic checklist and valid Persian version of WHO questionnaire on HH knowledge and attitude were completed by each participant. the SPSS software was used for analysis of the data.

Results: A total of 196 participants entered the study. The mean age of them was 27.6±7 and 65.8% were women; 100 medical residents (51%) and 96 medical students (49%),  63% of the participants had good attitude level toward hand hygiene, 27% moderate level and 10% poor. The knowledge level of 64% of participants was moderate (questionnaire score between 50 to 75), 9 individuals (5%) had a good knowledge level (score more than 75%), and 61 individuals (31%) had poor knowledge (the score less than 50%) About 71% completed the study, the attitude level of the residents was significantly higher than the externs (p<0.0001). 

Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude toward hand hygiene is at the moderate and good level, respectively. Regular traininig course is recommended to improve the knowledge level.

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medical journal of mashhad university of medical sciences
Volume 62, Issue 1
March and April 2019
Pages 1370-1378

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