Awareness and Performance Level for Healthcare-associated Infection Control among Caregivers at Medium and Small Hospitals

Background: There is not enough evidence about the level of awareness and performance for healthcare-associated infection control among caregivers working in medium and small hospitals. Methods: Self-reported questionnaires were distributed to 144 caregivers who worked at nine medium and small hospitals in Gyeongnam Province. The questionnaire comprised a total of 15 items outlining standard precautions. Results: The subjects who had less than two years of work experience showed significant differences between awareness and performance in three domains: hand washing (F=4.41, P=.006), protective equipment (F=4.18, P=.008), and linen and environment (F=4.74, P=.004). There was a significant difference between awareness and performance among those working 24 hours in the following areas: hand washing (F=4.19, P=.018) and protective equipment (F= 7.31, P=.001). Conclusion: There were significant differences between awareness and performance associated with the importance of infection control, heavy workloads from long working hours, joint caretaking responsibilities, and short careers of less than two years. There is therefore a need to shorten the long working hours of caregivers.