Evaluating Student Perspectives and Experiences with Nosocomial Infections: Insights from a Survey Study

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also known as nosocomial or healthcare-associated infections are a common global challenge. Novice nursing students, as part of the healthcare team, play a critical role in infection control, but often face a theory-practice gap during their transition to clinical practice. This gap can affect patient care, reduce their clinical performance, and contribute to increased HAI rates. Objectives: The study aimed to assess novice nursing students' knowledge and practice of HAI, examine the relationship between knowledge and practice, and explore associations with socio-demographic variables. Method: A descriptive study involving 100 novice nursing students (with less than one year of study) at a tertiary care hospital was conducted. Self-structured questionnaires assessed their knowledge and practice related to HAI. Results: The majority (72%) had moderately adequate knowledge, 26% had inadequate knowledge, and only 2% had adequate knowledge. Regarding practice, 52% had poor practice, 42% had fair practice, and 6% had good practice. A moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge and practice (r=0.425, p<0.00001). Practice was associated with age (p=0.027) and gender (p=0.012), but no association was found between knowledge and socio-demographic variables. Conclusion: Most novice nursing students demonstrated moderately adequate knowledge but insufficient practice in HAI control, potentially leading to higher infection rates. These findings highlight the need for clear policies, guidelines, and training to address knowledge and practice gaps.