title: Nurses' understanding of standard precautions at a public hospital in Goiania - GO, Brazil.
abstract: Standard Precautions (SP) are effective strategies to prevent and control nosocomial infections. This study aimed to verify nurses' understanding about standard precaution measures. Data were collected through interviews, followed by content analysis in accordance with Bardin. Eighty-two nurses took part in this study, 75.6% of whom understand SP as protective measures: for professionals (11.0%); for both professionals and patients (52.4%); for patient care independently of the diagnosis (7.3%); for patients with diagnosed infection (9.8%). Other nurses indicated SP as human care (4.9%) and only as Individual Protection Equipment (IPE) (11.0%). Most participants' understanding points to favorable cognitive adaptation to the daily implementation of SP. However, reductionist and even mistaken perceptions about their range persist, which makes the social function of these measures vulnerable.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Center, Hospital das Clínicas, Goiás Federal University. dsmelo11@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Dulcelene de Sousa
authors.initials: Dde S
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Adenícia Custódia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva e Souza
authors.forename: Anaclara Ferreira Veiga
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Tipple
authors.forename: Zilah Cândida Pereira
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: das Neves
authors.forename: Milca Severino
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D016635:Universal Precautions