Prevention of nosocomial infection and standard precautions: knowledge and source of information among healthcare students.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge of healthcare students after four curricula on infection control and to identify sources of information.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Four healthcare schools at Rouen University (Rouen, France).


METHODS
Medical students, nursing students, assistant radiologist students, and physiotherapist students taking public health courses.


METHODS
To measure students' knowledge of infection control and their sources of information, 6 multiple-choice questions were asked about 3 specific areas: standard precautions, hand hygiene, and nosocomial infection. Each questionnaire section had 10 possible points, for an overall perfect score of 30. The sources of information for these 3 areas were also recorded: self-learning, practice training in wards, formal training in wards, and teaching during the curriculum. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with acceptable level of knowledge.


RESULTS
Three hundred fifty students (107 medical students, 78 nursing students, 71 physiotherapist students, and 94 assistant radiologists tudents) were included in the study. The mean overall score (+/- SD) was 21.5 +/- 2.84. Nursing students had a better mean overall score (23.2 +/- 2.35) than did physiotherapist students (21.9 +/- 2.36), medical students (21.1 +/- 2.35), and assistant radiologist students (20.5 +/- 3.04; P.001). The mean scores ( +/- SD) for the component sections of the questionnaire were 8.5 +/- 1.4 for standard precautions, 7.4 +/- 1.26 for hand hygiene,and 5.7 +/- 1.55 for nosocomial infections (P .001). The main source of information was material taught during the curriculum.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall score for infection control indicated that instruction was effective; however, knowledge levels were different by area (the best scores were results of tests of standard precautions) and curriculum (nursing students achieved the best overall score). Ward training for daily infection control practice (ie, bedside instructions training and course work) could be improved for healthcare students.
Tavolacci
Marie-Pierre
MP
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France. Marie-Pierre.Tavolacci@churouen.fr
Ladner
Joël
J
Bailly
Laurent
L
Merle
Véronique
V
Pitrou
Isabelle
I
Czernichow
Pierre
P
D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016635:Universal Precautions