title: Determinants of nurses' adherence to universal precautions for venipunctures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to predict and explain nurses' adherence to Universal Precautions (UPs) when performing venipunctures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were gathered from 156 registered nurses working at a regional hospital. A self-administered questionnaire assessing the psychosocial variables (intention, attitude, subjective norm, perceived control, etc) was completed at baseline, and behavior was self-reported 3 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regression of intention on the variables yielded an adjusted R(2) of 0.68, with perceived barriers (beta =.62, P <.001), social norm (beta =.17, P <.01), and personal normative belief (beta =.19, P <.01) being the significant variables. With respect to the 3-month follow-up, 28% of the variance associated with UPs adherence was explained by intention (beta =.37, P <.001) and perceived behavioral control (beta =.23, P <.05). Moreover, high (n = 116) and low intenders (n = 40) differed on several normative beliefs (P =.0003) and perceived barriers (P =.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that perception of control, assessed either globally or by means of a belief-based measure, is a key factor in adherence. Specifically, the perceived difficulties associated with adherence to UPs appear to be related to a nurse's training on UPs and to the existence of suboptimal working conditions.
authors.affiliation: Laval University research group on behaviors in the field of health, Faculty of Nursing, Pavillon Comtois, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Godin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naccache
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ebacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires