Patients Knowledge on Infection Control Precaution

Abstract

Background: Hospital-associated infections are related with mortality, extended hospital stay, morbidity and attributable costs to the health care sector. The main objective of this study is measuring infected patients’ knowledge on infection control precaution in University Malaya Medical Center. Methods: Survey of 184 infected patients admitted to University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) in Malaysia determined infected patients’ knowledge level regarding infections control activities. Results: Infected patient’s knowledge on infection control precaution in given medical center (UMMC) is moderately high with 65.2% good knowledge among infectious patients. Nevertheless, certain knowledge areas of infection control need to improve –i.e., transferring infected patients to isolation room immediately and using facemasks by medical staff while attending patients. The age, level of education of patients and the source of receiving information regarding to controlling infection cannot influence infected patient’s knowledge of infection Control. While the gender of patients, patients’ job experience in healthcare environment, relatives of patients’ job experience in healthcare environment, frequency of hospitals admission and the received information related to controlling infection can influence infected patient’s knowledge of infection Control. Conclusions: Actions intended at improving knowledge are essential to the implementation and development of efficient public health preventative strategies.