Exploring the Knowledge and Practices of Standard Infection Control Precautions among BSc Nursing Students

Background: Infection control is an essential for protecting both patient & healthcare provider. Infections among healthcare personnel range from 7.6% in advanced economies to 10% in underdeveloped countries, with World Health Organization estimating that up to 3 million professionals are at risk annually for hepatitis B, C, and HIV. Studies highlight significant gaps in knowledge and adherence to infection control practices worldwide, including low compliance with hand hygiene and use of sterile gloves, underscoring the critical need for improved awareness and practice of standard precautions among health professionals, particularly in Pakistan where infection rates remain high. Objective: To assess the knowledge & practices of standard precautions for infection control among generic BSC Nursing students. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study used an adopted questionnaire to collect and analyze the data from 64 participants selected through convenient sampling technique. Result: The study In the abstract results section, you can summarize the knowledge and practices with key statistics as follows: Overall, 91% of nursing students correctly acknowledged the importance of hand washing after each patient contact, and 86% recognized the need for Standard Precautions when caring for HCV-positive patients. However, 63% mistakenly believed that Standard Precautions are only necessary for infected patients. In practice, 89% reported washing hands after contact with blood or body fluids, and 82% wore gloves when collecting blood samples. Notably, only 72% used protective eye goggles during procedures, and just 75% were vaccinated against infectious diseases, indicating critical areas for improvement. Conclusion: The study reveals significant gaps in infection control knowledge and practices among BSN students, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted education and training to improve compliance with protocols, ensure patient and healthcare personnel safety, and enhance overall health outcomes. Implementing comprehensive educational programs is crucial for developing a more informed and safer nursing workforce.