Five moments of hand hygiene: Knowledge, attitude and practices among staff nurses in a tertiary hospital in Iloilo City

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices on Five Moments of Hand Hygiene among staff nurses in a tertiary hospital in Iloilo City and determine the factors associated with hand hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices. This descriptive-relational type of research utilized the one-shot survey design and collected data from 151 staff nurses using an adapted and modified questionnaire which was validated by panel of experts and pre-tested to 13 staff nurses who were not part of this study. Permission to conduct the study was secured from the Hospital Director and Nursing Service Director prior to administration of the research instrument to all the target respondents and ethical considerations were observed. Data were processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Statistical analysis involved both descriptive and inferential; using frequency distribution and Pearson’s r, Cramer’s V and Chi Square for relational analysis. Findings revealed that majority of the nurses are female, young, new to the job and most were assigned in the wards. They generally have average knowledge, positive attitude towards hand hygiene and good practice of the Five Moments of Hand Hygiene. The personal characteristics of nurses in terms of age, sex, area of assignment, length of service were not related to knowledge and practices on hand hygiene. Age, sex, and length of service are not related to attitude towards hand hygiene but the area of assignment is related to attitude towards hand hygiene. The level of knowledge and practices were not related even when attitude was controlled. The attitude towards hand hygiene was related to the practices of the Five Moments of Hand Hygiene.