Knowledge and practice of the universal precaution among nursing students of Eras’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow

Abstract

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk of various occupational hazards in the hospital, including exposure to bloodborne infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infection from sharps injuries and contact with body fluids. All health care workers should routinely use appropriate barrier precautions to prevent skin and mucous membrane exposure during contact with any patient's blood or body fluids that require universal precautions. The objective of the study was to evaluate both the knowledge and the practice of standard precautions by nursing   students in the teaching hospital.Methods: It is a cross sectional study conducted in Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital over a period of two months from November 2014 to December 2014 on nursing students. 100 nursing students were included in this study. All the nurses had been professionally active for 1 year or more in direct patient care and hospital hygiene.Results: Most of the nursing students were aware of the concept of universal precaution. 97% of nursing students used to wash their hands before and after patient care. In reasons for use of universal precaution it was found that100% of nursing student said use of universal precaution is to protect health care worker. While 100% said it protects HCW while handling infectious waste. Nursing students knowledge regarding indications of hand hygiene was found 97.Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the need to implement a programme to improve knowledge on standard precautions.