Factors Influencing Nurses' Compliance with Standard Precautions in Order to Avoid Occupational Exposure to Microorganisms: A Focus Group Study

Overview

Journal BMC Nurs

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2011 Jan 25

PMID 21255419

Citations 42

Authors

Georgios Efstathiou

Evridiki Papastavrou

Vasilios Raftopoulos

Anastasios Merkouris

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Nurses may acquire an infection during the provision of nursing care because of occupational exposure to microorganisms. Relevant literature reports that, compliance with Standard Precautions (a set of guidelines that can protect health care professionals from being exposed to microorganisms) is low among nurses. Additionally, high rates of exposure to microorganisms among nurses via several modes (needlesticks, hand contamination with blood, exposure to air-transmitted microorganisms) occur. The aim of the study was to study the factors that influence nurses' compliance with Standard Precaution in order to avoid occupational exposure to pathogens, by employing a qualitative research design.

Method: A focus group approach was used to explore the issue under study. Four focus groups (N = 30) were organised to elicit nurses' perception of the factors that influence their compliance with Standard Precautions. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as the theoretical framework and the data were analysed according to predetermined criteria.

Results: Following content analysis, factors that influence nurses' compliance emerged. Most factors could be applied to one of the main domains of the HBM: benefits, barriers, severity, susceptibility, cues to action, and self-efficacy.

Conclusions: Changing current behavior requires knowledge of the factors that may influence nurses' compliance with Standard Precautions. This knowledge will facilitate in the implementation of programs and preventive actions that contribute in avoiding of occupational exposure.

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