Research Information System
Cocuk Enfeksiyon Dergisi, vol.17, no.1, pp.49-55, 2023 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
Objective: The current level of knowledge and awareness among operating room personnel regarding hospital-acquired infections (HAI) has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aims to assess the knowl-edge, level of awareness, and practices of health personnel working in the operating room regarding HAI and its management. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive questionnaire study con-ducted online. The responses were evaluated using a scoring system, and a net score was calculated for each participant. The scores were then converted to a 100-point system to determine the level of proficiency. A score of >75 was considered indicative of good proficiency. Results: Three hundred and seventy healthcare personnel working in the operating rooms participated in the study. Of the participants, 62.2% were female and the median age was 35.5 (23-50) years. The occupation-al distribution of the participants was as follows: 40.5% were specialist physicians, 31.1% were residents, and 28.4% were nurses. Of the respon-dents, 58% had undergone training on HAI, and the mean duration of the training was 9.48 ± 12.72 (1-70) hours. The mean duration in the pro-fession was 11.88 ± 7.87 (1-28) years. The participants had a sufficient level of knowledge about the definition of HAI and risk factors, and the importance of hand hygiene. However, the results indicated that there was insufficient knowledge among the participants regarding the defi-nitions of different types of HAI, sources and routes of transmission, the importance of hand hygiene in infection prevention, personal protective equipment usage, sterilization and disinfection practices, isolation pre-cautions, management of invasive devices, pre-and post-surgery pre-cautions, waste management, sharps injuries, rational antibiotic use, and the significance of surveillance. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in the scores obtained with an increase in the duration of the participants’ professional experience (p= 0.03). The mean score obtained using the percentile system was 61.6 ± 0.97 (ranging from 41.8 to 76.7). Based on the assessment of competency level, 10.8% of the participants were classified as weak, 85.1% as moderate, and 4.1% as good. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals working in the operating room had insufficient knowledge and inadequate approach towards HAI con-trol. Therefore, it is essential to review the training of health personnel on hospital infection control and develop effective plans to enhance practi-cal applications by increasing awareness and knowledge, which can help reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections.