title: Prevention of healthcare associated infections: medical and nursing students' knowledge in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The training of health workers is a key issue for the prevention of healthcare associated infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate knowledge of nursing and medical students concerning the prevention of healthcare associated infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospitals in nine Italian cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand four hundred sixty one healthcare students (607 medical students and 854 nursing students).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed using a questionnaire investigating 3 areas, each having different possible points: standard precautions=12; hand hygiene=8; healthcare associated infections=5, for an overall perfect score of 25. Scores that met a cutoff ≥17.5 were considered to be indicative of an acceptable level of knowledge. Factors associated with an acceptable level of knowledge were analyzed using a logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean overall score (±SD) was 18.1 ± 3.2. Nursing students (18.6 ± 2.9) obtained a higher overall score than medical students (17.4 ± 3.5) (p<0.001). Weighed scores (±SD) by area were: 10.3 (±2.0) for standard precautions, 5.0 (±1.3) for hand hygiene and 2.8 (±1.1) for healthcare associated infections. Knowledge level concerning the three areas was different between medical and nursing students (p<0.001). The probability of finding acceptable knowledge was smaller for medical students (OR: 0.54 p<0.0001) and for students aged ≥24 years (OR: 0.39 p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall score showed an acceptable level of knowledge for the whole sample; but, considering separately the two curricula, only nursing students reached the minimum acceptable score. It seems important to investigate what is working better in nursing than in medical education in order to implement and validate new teaching approaches.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Civil Building and Environmental Engineering, Sapienza University, Via Eudossiana, 18-00186 Rome, Italy; Post-graduate School of Public Health, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 18-00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: daniela.dalessandro@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.affiliation: Dept. Hygiene and Public Health "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 87-95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agodi
authors.affiliation: Dept. Public Health, Microbiology and Virology, University of Milan, Via Carlo Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auxilia
authors.affiliation: Dept. Clinical and Experimental Pathology and Medicine, University of Udine, Via Palladio 8, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brusaferro
authors.affiliation: Dept. Clinical and Experimental Pathology and Medicine, University of Udine, Via Palladio 8, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calligaris
authors.affiliation: Dept. Hygiene and Public Health "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 87-95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: Dept. Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.affiliation: Dept. Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/b, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.affiliation: Dept. Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.affiliation: Dept. Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, Via Volturno, 39, 43125 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesira
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquarella
authors.affiliation: Dept. Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Università 4, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Via Ardeatina, 306, 00142 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate School of Public Health, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 18-00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Semeraro
authors.affiliation: Dept. Public Health, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15-37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tardivo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D063373:Hand Hygiene; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013337:Students, Medical; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016635:Universal Precautions
keywords: Hand hygiene; Healthcare associated infections; Italy; Medical students; Nursing students; Standard precautions knowledge