Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding hospital-associated infections among health care professional of a tertiary-level hospital

Background: Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) are a serious threat to patient safety, leading to increased illness, longer hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Effective infection control relies heavily on the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of healthcare professionals. This study aimed to assess the KAP of healthcare workers regarding infection prevention measures in a tertiary-level hospital to identify gaps and improve practices. Data & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 healthcare professionals at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Jumla, Nepal, using a total enumerative sampling method. Data were collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, mean, standard deviation, and percentage, were applied. Inferential statistics such as chi-square tests, Spearman correlation, and coefficient tests were used to identify significant associations and correlations between variables. Results: The study revealed that 50.5% of healthcare professionals possessed good knowledge of (HAIs), 75.0% demonstrated a positive attitude toward infection control, and 66.7% showed good practice on infection control. Significant associations were observed between work experience and knowledge (p = 0.005, χ² = 7.828), as well as between sex and work experience with practice (p = 0.013, χ² = 6.186; p = 0.017, χ² = 5.652). Correlation analysis indicated a weak positive relationship between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.240, p = 0.001), a moderate correlation between attitude and practice (r = 0.429, p = 0.000), but no correlation between knowledge and practice. Conclusions: The study highlights gaps between knowledge and practice in infection control, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions like training, workshops, and awareness campaigns to improve adherence among healthcare professionals. Keywords: Attitude, Hospital-Associated Infection, Healthcare Professional, Knowledge, Practice.