Practice of and associated factors regarding prevention of surgical site infection among nurses working in the surgical units of public hospitals in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background

Surgical site infections are one of the commonest types of healthcare-associated infections.

Up to 60% of these infections are estimated to be preventable by using evidence-based

guidelines. As a front line caregiver, nurses are responsible for the majority of preventive

activities. Hence, the enhanced practical skill of nurses is an essential component in preventive

actions.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the practice of nurses and identify factors associated

with it regarding prevention of surgical site infections in Addis Ababa city public hospitals.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out from March 01–30, 2018. An

adapted and pretested, self-administered questionnaire was utilized as a data collection

tool. A stratified random sampling technique was employed by considering the level of hospitals

as a stratum. Data were entered into a computer using Epi-data 3.1 statistical package.

Then, it was exported to SPSS Version 23 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics

were computed for the study variables. Bivariate regression analysis was also run to assess

the association between independent variables and the level of nurse’s practice. To see the

relative effect of independent variables on the nurse’s practice, a multivariable regression

analysis was carried out.

Result

A total of 409 nurses returned the questionnaire with a response rate of 98%. Majority

(60.4%) of the participants were females and 84.1% were BSc holders. Less than half,

(48.9%) of the participants were found to have good practice regarding prevention of surgical

site infection. Being male, having more work experience, higher educational level and

using available infection prevention guidelines were significantly associated with practice at

p <0.05.

Conclusion

More than half of the participants have inadequate practice regarding prevention of surgical

site infection. Training nurses, making surgical site infection prevention guidelines easily

accessible and ensuring possessed knowledge by nurses is potent enough and can be

translated into desirable actions are recommended.