Improving Knowledge Regarding Universal Precautions amongst Nurses in Delhi

Abstract

Universal precautions are important, without it there are lot of health problems. Every nurse is expected to have proper knowledge of universal precautions, which can be improved with training. The objective was to find out the impact of training on knowledge of nurses regarding universal precautions. A hospital based intervention study was carried out from January 2010 to March 2011 in Maharishi Valmiki Hospital Pooth Khurd, New Delhi on 74 nursing staff. Pretested, pre-designed performa for data collection was used and training was dine as intervention that includes power point presentation containing knowledge regarding universal precautions, followed by interactive session to solve queries. Impact of training was assessed after 3 &  9 months. Using percentages and Cochran’s Q test in SPSS 16, out of 74 nurses, 8(10.8%) were males and 66(89.2%) were females; mean age of nurses was 29.31 (SD=4.19); average duration of experience of staff was 4.77 years (SD=3.83). Baseline knowledge of nursing staff regarding universal precautions was 83.6% and which was improved up to 93% at 3 month & decreased to 88.1% at 9 month after training. Improvement of knowledge was observed after training in nursing staff that suggests a regular training of nursing staff for their safety.