Knowledge and compliance with standard isolation precautions among healthcare students in Al-Kharj Governorate, Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives: Standard isolation precautions (SIPs) are clinical practice policies and guidelines for controlling healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). Healthcare students are frequently exposed to HAIs and their abidance of SIPs is paramount. This study is designated to evaluate healthcare students' knowledge and compliance with SIPs. It also identifies the most frequent sources of their information. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 5th January to 16th February 2016 at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University in Al-Kharj Governorate, Saudi Arabia. A novel self-constructed questionnaire was taken from a literature review and reused. Results: About 353 students, of which 73.4% being males with a mean age of 22.3; 1.53 (mean; standard deviation), were surveyed. Seventy percent had previously attended an infection control course. The overall means of knowledge and compliance with SIPs were included within highest ranges. This means that the study sample agreed with all correct answers of knowledge questions and always complied with all recommended statements of compliance. The most frequent source of information was self-learning while the current curriculum was the least frequent. Females were found to have higher mean scores in knowledge and compliance, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). According to the results of one-way analysis of variance, there were statistically significant differences in mean scores of knowledge and compliance between different specialities and academic levels. Conclusion: Despite the relatively weak role played by the current curriculum, this sample showed above average overall means of knowledge and compliance with SIPs.