Nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene in Aceh, Indonesia: A correlational study among surgical nurses

Abstract

This study aims to thoroughly examine nurses' knowledge and attitudes about hand hygiene and investigate how these factors are related. Conducted in a hospital environment, the research aims to gather detailed information to help develop better hand hygiene practices among nurses. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a global issue, impacting numerous people each year. However, consistent hand hygiene can greatly reduce these infections. Nurses are vital in preventing HAIs, and this study looks at the hand hygiene behaviors of thirty-three surgical nurses. The research involved collecting data through three questionnaires and analyzing it with the Pearson correlation test. The results revealed that the average knowledge score of the nurses was 11.6, and their average attitude score was 16.33. There was a strong correlation (r=0.688) between the nurses' knowledge and their attitudes towards hand hygiene practices. Moreover, a significant positive correlation (ρ-value of 0.000) was observed, indicating a meaningful relationship between knowledge levels and attitudes towards hand hygiene. The findings suggest that enhancing knowledge about hand hygiene results in a more positive attitude towards its practices. The role of the hospital ward manager is crucial in maintaining proper hand hygiene among staff. As a role model, supervisor, and evaluator, the ward manager significantly influences awareness and adherence to good hand hygiene practices. Additionally, the hospital should provide adequate support and resources to enable staff to perform hand hygiene effectively.