Assessment of knowledge on surgical site infections and wound infection risks: A cross-sectional study

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly impact patient outcomes, with surgical site infections (SSIs) comprising 20% of all HAIs. Adherence to prevention guidelines is essential. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of SSIs among Jordanian physicians and medical students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study examined Jordanian physician participants from April to October 2023. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a self-administered questionnaire adopted from the literature. SSI Knowledge level was scored and grouped by a 20-point scale (poor: 0-9, fair: 10-15, good: 16-20). Data analysis was performed using Jamovi version 2.3, applying descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Fisher’s exact tests at a 5% significance level. Results: A total of 493 participants completed the survey (mean age 22.7 ± 1.51 years). The majority were female (61.5%) and medical students (84.8%). The overall mean knowledge score regarding surgical site infections and wound infection risks was 10.4 ± 2.5. Based on the knowledge scale stratification, 67.1% of participants demonstrated fair knowledge, 31.4% poor knowledge, and only 1.4% good knowledge. The highest accuracy was observed in identifying wound infection presentations (90.9%), while knowledge regarding surgical hair removal methods was the lowest (20.5%). Statistical analysis revealed a significant variation in knowledge scores based on age ( P = 0.047) and education level ( P = 0.030), but no significant difference was found based on gender ( P = 0.398). Conclusion: The overall SSI knowledge among participants was suboptimal, with significant gaps in understanding key prevention strategies, causative organisms, and optimal preoperative practices. Integration of structured SSI‐focused educational modules into medical training, coupled with hands-on workshops and context-tailored guidelines, is recommended to enhance adherence to prevention protocols and ultimately reduce SSI-related morbidity, mortality, and costs.