title: Knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding contact precautions among Iranian physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Iranian physicians regarding contact isolation precautions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected between May and November 2002 using a cross-sectional survey design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching hospitals in Shiraz, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 155 physicians: 78 attending clinicians and 77 resident physician surgeons or internists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean scores for knowledge and attitude were acceptable, with 71% of physicians scoring the maximum for knowledge and 65% achieving the maximum scores for attitude, whereas the mean score for practice was low, with only 26% achieving the maximum score. A good level of knowledge be associated with a good attitude (odds ratio [OR], 68.4 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 20.0-285.6]; P<.001), good practices were associated with good knowledge (OR, 22.5 [95% CI, 7.1-91.3]; P<.001), and a good attitude was associated with good practice (OR, 20.0 [95% CI, 5.7-105.2]; P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although strong associations were found among knowledge, attitude, and practice, the level of compliance with precautions was not nearly as high as it should be.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. askariam@sums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Askarian
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shiraly
authors.forename: Kiarash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aramesh
authors.forename: Mary-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McLaws
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D010356:Patient Isolation; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires