| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
Background: Hospital-acquired infections are recognized as a major risk factor in healthcare settings. Hand hygiene as the first stage of infection control plays an important role in reducing these infections. This study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding hand hygiene among nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) of Basrah and Dhi Qar cities. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study targeted 231 ICU nursing staff working in hospitals of Al-Basra and Dhi-Qar- Iraq, during the year 2022. The subjects were recruited through census. To assess the nurses' hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice, electronic questionnaires were administered via WhatsApp. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (absolute and relative frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher test). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22, and a significance level of less than 0.05 was considered for all statistical tests. Results: The mean scores of nurses' hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice were 4.74±1.82 (1-10), 77.25 ±7.89 (55-95), and 49.80±12.23 (21-70), respectively. There was a significant relationship between hand hygiene knowledge and gender, with female nurses' knowledge being higher than that of male nurses (p=0.03). Furthermore, it was found that nurses with less than 5 years of practical experience in the ICU had a higher mean score of attitudes towards hand hygiene compared to those with 5-10 years of practical experience (p=0.015). Additionally, nurses with lower than 5 years of experience in the ICU also showed a higher mean score of hand hygiene practice compared to those with more than 10 years of practical experience (p=0.028). Conclusion: According to the findings, the knowledge, attitude and practice of ICU nurses about hand hygiene were inappropriate. It is deemed necessary to implement educational programs to improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iraqi ICU nurses in this area. |