Knowledge, attitude and practices of health care workers to ward infection control strategies in selected areas of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot

Infection prevention and control is an integral component of health care delivery in any setting to reduce risks for morbidity and mortality in patients and care givers at all levels. Health care workers are on the front line to answer questions from patients and families when median report outbreaks of exotic infectious diseases and development of new super pathogens assoc1ated w1th health care, takes place.

The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of health care workers toward infection control strategies in selected areas of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot and to identify Barriers that hinder Health care workers to adopt infection control strategies.

A quantitative research approach and Convenience sampling was used to select 60 health care workers working in Labour room, NICU, PICU, Medical ICU and Surgical ICU. Data was collected using structured tools.

The results of the study revealed that (56.60%) health care workers had adequate knowledge and (43.3%) had inadequate knowledge regarding infection control. (93.3%) health care workers had positive attitude toward infection control and only (6.7%) had negative attitude. Practices in certain skills were found to be good and poor practice were found in some other skills. Association of Knowledge, attitude and practices were found to be non significant at (p<0.05) level. Barriers that hinder health care workers to adopt infection control strategies were Inaccessible supplies, Understaffing, High workload, Ignorance of guidelines and insufficient time.

The study concludes that 56.60% health care workers had adequate knowledge and 93.3% health care workers had positive attitude toward infection control. Practices in certain skills were found to be good while these were poor in certain other skills. So, it is required to take necessary steps to overcome the barriers.