The Comparison of Knowledge, Performance and Attitude of Infection control and Sterile Technique Principles among Surgical Technologists and Students in Zanjan and Tabriz.

Abstract

Abstract: Background: According to international standards, medical institutions should have a program to prevent, follow and control of hospital infections, because of substantial effects on the overall burden of disease. In the United States 5% -10% and in developing countries 2-4 million patients annually suffer from infections. It is one of the ten leading causes of death and beget invasive and non –invasive diagnostic procedures. So awareness of ideas in health behaviors is the basic item although obtaining knowledge or awareness alone is not an achievement in itself, but what is important is the transfer of knowledge into act and prevention of infection and compliance with sterile technique principles which demanded three concepts of knowledge, performance and attitude. Method: This research was a comparative –descriptive study. To run 113 undergraduate students and 244 surgical technologist working in the operating room of Tabriz and Zanjan according to stratified random sampling was selected. Data collected by the researcher designed questionnaire and by using SPSS 20, descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed. Results: Data analysis indicates that there was not the average appropriate compliance of two variables in the knowledge and performance of infection control among research subjects. The compliance status of these two variables reflects the implementation of the sterile technique principles was about 50% of the given responses by the study population and the correct answer or criteria. Two groups of students and technologists had a positive attitude to infection control and sterile techniques. Statistical analysis showed that the two groups’ knowledge of infection control and sterile techniques was not significantly different (p=0.109) and (p=0.233). However, between performance of the two groups there was significant difference in infection control (p=0.002) but there was no significant difference in the principles of sterile techniques (p=0.412). Attitudes of the two groups in terms of the infection control and sterile techniques was not significantly (p=0.058) and (p=0.157). Conclusion: Since based on the data, two research group adaptation rate in the cognitive and motor domains in the field of infection control and principles of sterile technique was flawed; one could say this a threat for infection control programs and better to educate students and employees according to regularly followed scheduling and compliance of these to be in priority.