Assessment of Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Among Health Sciences Students in Herat, Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

IF 2.7 4区医学 Q2 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Risk Management and Healthcare Policy Pub Date : 2025-06-17 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.2147/RMHP.S524485

Enayatollah Ejaz, Mohammad Masudi, Ali Rahimi, Khadejah Osmani, Nasar Ahmad Shayan

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Abstract

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is a fundamental practice in preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), yet compliance among healthcare workers, including students, remains suboptimal. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) related to HH among final-year health sciences students in Herat, Afghanistan.

Methods: A convenience-based cross-sectional study was conducted in October to December 2023 at public and private health sciences institutions in Herat, using a structured questionnaire to assess KAP on HH. A sample of 427 participated. Data analysis in SPSS 27 included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression.

Results: The overall accuracy of responses was 84.61% (IQR: 76.92, 84.61), reflecting a strong level of awareness. Attitudes toward HH were also largely positive, with a correct rate of 81.25% (IQR: 75.00, 85.41). Additionally, self-reported adherence to proper HH practices was notably high at 92.85% (IQR: 85.71, 98.21). Students assigned to the emergency ward (23.6%) demonstrated significantly higher knowledge compared to those in other wards (p = 0.016). Logistic regression further confirmed that work setting played a crucial role, with students in the internal ward exhibiting significantly higher knowledge levels than their peers (95% CI: 1.001-4.448) (p = 0.050). The study objectives were met, revealing that final-year students possessed strong knowledge, positive attitudes, and high adherence to HH practices. However, the work environment was a key determinant of knowledge variation across wards.

Conclusion: Despite high awareness and adherence, misconceptions and barriers to compliance exist. Strengthening educational interventions, institutional policies, and real-time monitoring is crucial to ensuring sustained HH practices among future healthcare professionals.

查看原文本刊更多论文

阿富汗赫拉特健康科学专业学生手卫生知识、态度和行为的评估：一项横断面研究。

背景：手卫生（HH）是预防医院获得性感染（HAIs）的基本做法，但卫生工作者（包括学生）的依从性仍然不理想。本研究评估了阿富汗赫拉特市最后一年健康科学学生中与HH相关的知识、态度和实践（KAP）。方法：于2023年10月至12月在赫拉特的公立和私立卫生科学机构进行了一项基于便利的横断面研究，使用结构化问卷评估HH的KAP。共有427人参与。SPSS 27的数据分析包括描述性统计、卡方检验和逻辑回归。结果：回答的总体准确率为84.61% (IQR: 76.92, 84.61)，反映了较强的认知水平。对HH的态度也大多是积极的，正确率为81.25% （IQR: 75.00, 85.41）。此外，自我报告的正确HH实践依从性显著高，为92.85% （IQR: 85.71, 98.21）。急诊病房学生（23.6%）的知识水平明显高于其他病房学生（p = 0.016）。Logistic回归进一步证实，工作环境发挥了至关重要的作用，内室学生的知识水平明显高于同龄人（95% CI: 1.001-4.448）（p = 0.050）。研究目标达到了，揭示了最后一年的学生拥有强大的知识，积极的态度，并高度遵守HH实践。然而，工作环境是跨部门知识差异的关键决定因素。结论：尽管有很高的认知度和依从性，但存在误解和依从性障碍。加强教育干预、制度政策和实时监测对于确保未来医疗保健专业人员持续的健康护理实践至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Risk Management and Healthcare Policy Medicine-Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

CiteScore

6.20

自引率

2.90%

发文量

242

审稿时长

16 weeks

期刊介绍： Risk Management and Healthcare Policy is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal focusing on all aspects of public health, policy and preventative measures to promote good health and improve morbidity and mortality in the population. Specific topics covered in the journal include: Public and community health Policy and law Preventative and predictive healthcare Risk and hazard management Epidemiology, detection and screening Lifestyle and diet modification Vaccination and disease transmission/modification programs Health and safety and occupational health Healthcare services provision Health literacy and education Advertising and promotion of health issues Health economic evaluations and resource management Risk Management and Healthcare Policy focuses on human interventional and observational research. The journal welcomes submitted papers covering original research, clinical and epidemiological studies, reviews and evaluations, guidelines, expert opinion and commentary, and extended reports. Case reports will only be considered if they make a valuable and original contribution to the literature. The journal does not accept study protocols, animal-based or cell line-based studies.