KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF NURSES REGARDING THE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SWAT, PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infections threaten patient safety and place a heavy burden on health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Nurses have the most continuous contact with patients, so their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) are central to infection prevention.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of registered nurses regarding the prevention and control of nosocomial infection at the Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals (SGTH), Swat, Pakistan.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over 16 weeks (1 March to 6 June 2022). Seventy-eight registered nurses providing direct patient care were recruited by convenience sampling (Raosoft estimate: 95% confidence, 10% margin of error, population of 400). Data were collected with an adapted, self-administered 27-item English questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha 0.823) and analysed descriptively in SPSS version 22.

Results: All 78 nurses responded (100%). Most were male (61.5%), aged 21–30 years (57.7%), and held a BSc in Nursing (71.8%). The proportion giving the correct response to individual knowledge items ranged from 62.8% to 96.2% (unweighted mean 78.6%). A favourable attitude was recorded in 89.7% of nurses, and 61.5% showed good practice. Practice was weakest for changing masks between patients (51% agreed this is a control measure), always changing gloves and washing hands before a new patient (62% each), and discarding infectious material according to guidelines (47% always).

Conclusion: Nurses at SGTH showed generally good knowledge and a favourable attitude, but practice lagged behind, leaving a knowledge–practice gap. Regular in-service training, supervised audit of hand hygiene, glove and mask use and waste segregation, and reliable supply of protective equipment are recommended.