Determination of the knowledge about effective measures in preventing nozocomial infections of nurses working in intensive care units of various hospitals in adana

ABSTRACTDetermination of the Knowledge about Effective Measures in Preventing NozocomialInfections of Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units of Various Hospitals in AdanaNozocomial infections are major causes of mortality and morbidity throughout theworld. The fact that intensive care units is one of the places where nozocomial infectionsare most frequently encountered, the nurses who work in these units need to know aboutthe effective measures. Our research was carried in order to specify the knowledge ofnurses working in intensive care units of various hospitals in Adana province about themeasures effective in preventing nasocomial infections.Our research which was designed as descriptive and carried out between 1st andst31 May 2005, included 210 nurses who works in the intensive care units of AdanaResearch and Practice Hospital of Başkent University, Balcalı Hospital of ÇukurovaUniversity Faculty of Medical and Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital ofTurkish Republic Ministry accepted to fill the questionnaire forms about their sociodemographical situations and knowledge level about nasocomial infections, after gettingpermissions from the hospital managements.The average age of the nurses was 26.6+3.8, 42.9 % were working in BaşkentUniversity Hospital, 33.4 % were graduates of Health High School, average professionalexperience was 5.66+4.75, 63.3 % had been trained about nasocomial infections, 69.6 %knew the definition of nozocomial infection, 85.2 % knew the most frequent nozocomialinfections, 84.8 % considered washing hands as the measure absolutely required, 84.8 %answered 11 to 16 questions correctly, 68.7 % of the nurses who answered maximum 17questions and more correctly were graduates of colleges (two year degree holders).As a result of this research, it was revealed that, in general, the knowledge of thenurses working in intensive care units, on nozocomial infections, was of intermediatelevel and needed to be improved more from some aspects. The findings will be used forthe organization of trainings to overcome the inadequate knowledge level of nurses onnozocomial infections.Keywords: Nozocomial infection, Nursing, Intensive Care Unit