Abstract
Blood pressure apparatuses, stethoscopes and thermometers serve as vehicles for pathogens. Previous studies have shown that this equipment harbor potentially pathogenic microorganisms and even antibiotic-resistant strains within the hospital environment. Practice of good infection control on vital signs equipment therefore plays an important role in preventing the spread of infections that can be acquired during hospitalization. However, studies on infection control practice of these equipment among nursing students have not been given much attention. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the senior nursing students' practice of infection control on vital signs equipment. A researcher made, self-administered survey instrument was used to collect data among 202 randomly selected senior nursing students in all six nursing schools in Iloilo City, Philippines. Descriptive and parametric inferential statistical tools were employed to analyze and interpret the data gathered. Results indicated that while a higher proportion of nursing students almost always disinfected their thermometers, only one out of five almost always disinfected their BP apparatuses, and only two out of five almost always performed disinfection of their stethoscopes after each patient use and every after clinical duty. Forgetfulness and laziness in doing the disinfection process were primary reasons for non-disinfection. A significant correlation was found between nursing students' self-report infection control practice and the infection control practice of their fellow nursing students. It is evident that there are senior nursing students that do not regularly practice high standard infection control of their vital sign's equipment. Strengthening practice, modeling good behaviors, and adopting clear guidelines on infection control of vital signs equipment must be initiated in the undergraduate nursing program.
Notes
This article was peer-reviewed by the journal noted in this record. No additional peer evaluation was performed prior to posting in this repository.
,This item appears in the Sigma Repository by way of the author's decision to publish with an open access journal, under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0. Please refer to the attached license (the icon at the bottom of this entry) for further information and terms. All terms of the license have been followed. There are no changes in this article from the original posting.
Sigma Membership
Phi Gamma (Virtual)
Lead Author Affiliation
West Visayas State University, Iloilo City, Philippines
Type
Article
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Nursing Students, Infection Control, Vital Signs, Disinfection Practice
Recommended Citation
Suarez, Zea Maize; Oducado, Ryan Michael F.; Josue, Eric Lorenz; Gayoso, Treesha Llen; Ocate, Christy Anne; and Lujan, Janelene Joy, "Infection control practice on vital signs equipment: A survey among senior nursing students in Iloilo City, Philippines" (2019). Individual Articles. 9.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/individual_articles/9
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publisher
Lyceum of the Philippines University, Batangas
Version
Publisher's Version
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
External Review: Previously Published Material
Acquisition
Self-submission
Date of Issue
2019-05-01
Full Text of Presentation
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