Nurses' compliance to standard precautions prior to and during COVID-19.
Cross-sectional
Italy
guideline adherence
hospital nursing staff
infection control
occupational health
standard precautions
Journal
International nursing review
ISSN: 1466-7657
Titre abrégé: Int Nurs Rev
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7808754
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
25 Jan 2023
25 Jan 2023
Historique:
received:
01
04
2022
accepted:
31
12
2022
entrez:
25
1
2023
pubmed:
26
1
2023
medline:
26
1
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
To measure nurses' compliance with standard precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, compare findings with previous assessments and describe the barriers affecting nurses' compliance. Healthcare providers' compliance with standard precautions is still limited worldwide. Implementation of infection control policies in hospitals is needed internationally, especially during a pandemic. Surprisingly, studies exploring nurses' compliance with standard precautions are lacking during COVID-19. A multicenter cross-sectional study was adopted in two Italian hospitals. Nurses' compliance with standard precautions was measured through The Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale (Italian version). An open-ended question explored the barriers to nurses' compliance with standard precautions. Reporting, followed the STROBE guidelines. A total of 201 nurses were enrolled in 2020. Nurses' compliance with standard precautions was suboptimal. A statistically significant improvement in the compliance rate with standard precautions was observed between pre- and during COVID-19 assessments. High compliance was found in the appropriate use of surgical masks, gloves and sharps disposal. Nurses perceived personal, structural and organizational barriers to standard precautions adherence. Nurses' compliance with standard precautions was not 100%, and different factors impeded nurses to work safely. Our findings provide institutional leaders and educators with the basis for implementing policies to optimize nurse safety, well-being and patient care. Nurses have the right to work safely, and when the shortage of personal protective equipment and nurses during an emergency threatens healthcare quality worldwide, policymakers are challenged to act by establishing an effective allocation of resources for consistent compliance with standard precautions. Moreover, nurses should actively engage in the implementation of infection control policies to improve safe behaviours among citizens and students accessing hospitals.
Sections du résumé
AIMS
OBJECTIVE
To measure nurses' compliance with standard precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, compare findings with previous assessments and describe the barriers affecting nurses' compliance.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Healthcare providers' compliance with standard precautions is still limited worldwide. Implementation of infection control policies in hospitals is needed internationally, especially during a pandemic. Surprisingly, studies exploring nurses' compliance with standard precautions are lacking during COVID-19.
METHODS
METHODS
A multicenter cross-sectional study was adopted in two Italian hospitals. Nurses' compliance with standard precautions was measured through The Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale (Italian version). An open-ended question explored the barriers to nurses' compliance with standard precautions. Reporting, followed the STROBE guidelines.
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 201 nurses were enrolled in 2020. Nurses' compliance with standard precautions was suboptimal. A statistically significant improvement in the compliance rate with standard precautions was observed between pre- and during COVID-19 assessments. High compliance was found in the appropriate use of surgical masks, gloves and sharps disposal. Nurses perceived personal, structural and organizational barriers to standard precautions adherence.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Nurses' compliance with standard precautions was not 100%, and different factors impeded nurses to work safely. Our findings provide institutional leaders and educators with the basis for implementing policies to optimize nurse safety, well-being and patient care.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICIES
CONCLUSIONS
Nurses have the right to work safely, and when the shortage of personal protective equipment and nurses during an emergency threatens healthcare quality worldwide, policymakers are challenged to act by establishing an effective allocation of resources for consistent compliance with standard precautions. Moreover, nurses should actively engage in the implementation of infection control policies to improve safe behaviours among citizens and students accessing hospitals.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© 2023 International Council of Nurses.
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