ASSESSMENT OF NURSING STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE ABOUT INFECTION CONTROL: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING EDUCATION.
Contributors: University of Iowa.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 131
Subjects: Education, Health.; Education, Sciences.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Ensuring adequate Infection Control (IC) skill development in nursing students is an important of part nursing education. This study was conducted to measure nursing students' present level of IC-specific knowledge (PK), their learning experiences and their perceived learning needs regarding infection control. A survey form was sent to ten colleges of nursing in the state of Iowa, with distribution to all third and fourth year baccalaureate nursing students in each college. Questions designed to describe the demographic characteristics and academic success of the respondents were included along with IC related questions.

Responses were received from 282 (53%) of the eligible participants from the ten schools. The average percentage score for questions measuring PK was 75%. The students perceived a moderate level of learning need regarding infection control. Clinical experience was the instructional strategy that was most frequently used and judged to be the most effective in learning about infection control. There were significant correlations between PK and perceived learning needs (r = $-$0.2, p = 0.007), PK and clinical experience (r = 0.2, p = 0.006), and perceived learning needs and clinical experience (r = $-$0.3, p = 0.0001). Analysis of questions measuring PK revealed a correct response rate of 83% for questions related to general information about asepsis, but only a 60% correct response rate for questions involving specific IC procedures such as handwashing or isolation practices. The results of this survey suggest the need for revised or updated nursing curriculum as related to teaching in the area of infection control, particularly those aspects related to aseptic techniques and isolation. Moreover, the curriculum should include added emphasis on clinical experience in infection control as a means to help translate classroom lessons into clinical behavior.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-12, Section: A, page: 4231.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, 1991.

School code: 0096.