Evaluating the knowledge level of personnel working in neonatal intensive care unit units know about hygienic hand washing

This study was conducted to assess the hand washing practices and knowledge levels of healthcare professionals working in neonatal intensive care units of private and public hospitals in the city center of Gaziantep. A questionnaire including demographic characteristics of healthcare professionals, their previous ICU experience, their length of working in their unit, and their knowledge level about hygienic hand washing method and the situations requiring its use was applied to 267 professionals working in the neonatal intensive care units of hospitals affiliated with the Secretariat General of the Public Hospitals Association, the Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Application Hospital, and private hospitals. While the rate of those working in any neonatal intensive care unit before was 38.6%, the rate of those working in intensive care unit before was 36.7%. The rate of those receiving any training on hygienic hand washing before was 85.0%. While the rate of those using gloves during patient care/examination was 68.9%, 75.0% stated that they washed their hands before wearing gloves. Among the participants considering a significant correlation between hygienic hand washing and hospital-acquired infections, the rate of those working in any intensive care unit before was significantly higher than those who did not consider (p: 0.032). The rate of those finding warning and reminder notices related to hand hygiene and hygienic hand washing in their working unit was 94.0%. 86.0% stated that those notices were hung in that unit's hand washing unit. Consequently, the participants were aware of hygienic hand washing indications at high rate.