Infection Control and Prevention Awareness Among Intensive and Cardiac Care Nurses: Implications for Managers and Policymakers

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AIM: This study aimed to assess the awareness levels of infection control and prevention among intensive care nurses at two Ministry of Health hospitals in Saudi Arabia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey conducted from September to December 2023. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted online in the selected hospitals. Using convenience sampling, 82 nurses completed a self-administered questionnaire that included data about their demographics and infection control training. Descriptive and inferential analysis were used to examine the study variables. RESULTS: The results indicated that 95.1% of intensive and cardiac care unit nurses had unsatisfactory awareness of hospital-acquired infections, whereas 59.8% and 58.5% were aware of hand hygiene and standard precautions, respectively. Nearly one-quarter of nurses had an unsatisfactory level of awareness regarding infection control, whereas 72.2% had satisfactory awareness. CONCLUSION: While most nurses were aware of standard precautions, they had unsatisfactory awareness of infection control and hospital-acquired infections. There was a significant difference between nurses' educational level and their workplace awareness of infection control and prevention measures. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Targeted educational interventions using evidence-based quality improvement models should be implemented to ensure that nurses stay current with the latest recommendations and best practices. Regular training sessions, workshops, and seminars should also be conducted. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.