Awareness, Attitude and Performance of Nurses in Affiliated Hospitals of Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Iran, about Principles of Universal Precautions

Indentifying influential factors on the wellbeing of health personnel plays a significant role in the promotion of effectiveness and outcomes of health systems. This study aimed to determine the awareness, attitude and performance of nurses regarding principles of universal precautions. In this cross-sectional study, the data were obtained through a questionnaire. The study sample was all of the nurses at Zabol, Iran, hospitals in 2010. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was approved in a pilot study. Knowledge, attitude and performance scores were categorized as weak, average and good. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Student’s t, chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. The mean awareness score of 39.1% of the nurses was average, and of the rest (60.9%) was good. The attitude score of 10.4% of nurses was average and 89.6% had a good attitude toward comprehensive precautionary principles. The performance score was weak in 13.9%, average in 68.7%, and satisfactory in only 17.4% of the nurses. There was no significant relationship between age, gender and work experiences with awareness, attitude and performance of nurses; but, there was a significant relationship (P < 0.05) between performance and the serving hospitals. Despite good awareness and attitude of nurses regarding comprehensive precautionary principles, their performance was weak. So, official’s attention should become more in performing training classes and continuous educational courses.