Investigating the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Iraqi Intensive Care Nursing Staff Regarding Hand Hygiene

Hospital-acquired infections are recognized as a major risk factor in healthcare settings. Hand hygiene as the first stage of infection control plays an important role in reducing these infections. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding hand hygiene among nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) of Basrah City and Dhi Qar City, Iraq.

This descriptive cross-sectional study targeted 231 ICU nursing staff working in hospitals of Al-Basra and Dhi-Qar in Iraq in 2022. The subjects were recruited through the census. To assess the nurses’ hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice, electronic questionnaires were administered via WhatsApp. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (absolute and relative frequency, Mean±SD) and inferential statistics (independent t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher test). The data analysis was performed using the SPSS software, version 22. Meanwhile, a significance level of <0.05 was considered for all statistical tests.

The mean scores (ranges) of nurses’ hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice were 4.74±1.82 (1-10), 77.25±7.89 (55-95), and 49.80±12.23 (21-70), respectively. There was a significant relationship between hand hygiene knowledge and gender, with female nurses’ knowledge being higher compared to male nurses (P=0.03). Furthermore, nurses with less than 5 years of practical experience in the ICU had a higher mean score of attitudes toward hand hygiene compared to nurses with 5-10 years of practical experience (P=0.015). Additionally, nurses with less than 5 years of experience in the ICU showed a higher mean score of hand hygiene practice compared to nurses with more than 10 years of practical experience (P=0.028).

According to the findings, the knowledge, attitude, and practice of ICU nurses about hand hygiene were inappropriate. It is necessary to implement educational programs to improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iraqi ICU nurses in this area.