Influence of Nursing Students Handwashing Knowledge, Beliefs, and Attitudes on Their Handwashing Compliance

Abstract

Information regarding current status of handwashing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and com-pliance with handwashing practice in nursing students in Jordan is limited. This study aims to ex-plore handwashing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and self-reported compliance and to examine significant variables predicting compliance with handwashing practice among nursing students. The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Results found a statistically significant relation-ship between nursing students' handwashing compliance and their handwashing knowledge, atti-tudes, and beliefs (r = 0.68, 0.65, 0.58, P < 0.05), respectively. Also, results revealed three statisti-cally significant predictors. Namely, handwashing knowledge was the strongest predictor (β = 0.423, P = 0.000), followed by attitudes (β = 0.322, P = 0.000), and beliefs (β = 0.171, P = 0.027). Specific handwashing training courses integrated in nursing education curriculum are recom-mended. These courses need to consider nursing students' handwashing attitudes and beliefs in conjunction with handwashing knowledge.