Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Infection Prevention in Cancer Patients Among Registered Nurses

Authors

  • Yuwalee Chaywong Graduate Student of Nursing Science program in Nursing Care for Patient with Infectious Disease and Infection Control, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University
  • Nongkran Viseskul Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University
  • Nongyao Kasatpibal Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University

Keywords:

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, Preventing infections in cancer patients, Registered nurses

Abstract

Infections in cancer patients is a leading cause of death in patients. The practices of registered nurses are important in preventing infections among cancer patients. This descriptive correlational study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered nurses regarding infection prevention in cancer patients, and to study the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered nurses regarding infection prevention in cancer patients. The participants were 264 registered nurses working in inpatient units at eight institutes of cancer under the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health. Data were collected between June and November 2017. The research instrument was a questionnaire consisting of four parts: demographic data, knowledge of preventing infections in cancer patients, attitudes towards preventing infections in cancer patients, and practices of preventing infections in cancer patients. The content validity of the questionnaire was examined by five experts. The content validity index was 1.0. The reliability of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire were .72, .90 and .87 respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered nurses regarding preventing infections in cancer patients was analyzed using the Spearman Correlation Coefficients.

          The research findings showed that the participants had knowledge of preventing infections in cancer patients at a moderate level with a median score of 19 out of 25 points. The participants had a high level of positive attitudes regarding preventing infections in cancer patients with a median score of 66 out of 80 points, and practice was at a high level with a median score of 97 out of 108 points. It was also found that participant knowledge of and attitudes regarding preventing infections were positively correlated at a very low level with a statistical significance of .01 (r = .279). The attitudes and practices of the participants regarding preventing infections were positively correlated at a very low level with a statistical significance of .01 (r = .215). However knowledge was not correlated with the participants’ practices of preventing infections (r = .021).

          The results of this research can be used as baseline information and guidance on planning to promote knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the prevention of infections in cancer patients. These result can specifically be applied to registered nurses in institutes of cancer specialty under the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health.

References

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Published

2021-09-20

How to Cite

Chaywong, Y. ., Viseskul, N. ., & Kasatpibal , N. (2021). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Infection Prevention in Cancer Patients Among Registered Nurses. Nursing Journal CMU, 48(3), 191–201. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/cmunursing/article/view/253766

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Section

Research Article