Limited knowledge and practice of Chinese medical students regarding health-care associated infections

Abstract

Introduction: Health-care associated infections (HCAIs) occur worldwide and affect both patients and health-care workers (HCWs), including medical students. This study aimed to investigate HCAI risks associated with clinical medical students attending Shantou University Medical College (SUMC) and the effectiveness of their learning resources. Methodology: Four cohorts (n = 272) of medical students participated in a questionnaire-based survey was done on (year 5 in the 5-year program and years 5 to 7 in the 7-year program) undergoing internship training in 14 teaching hospitals in Guangdong, China. Results: The mean overall score of the students was 52.54 ± 0.45 (mean ± SE). Students received fairly good scores in hand hygiene (77.57 ± 0.77) and HCAI source (63.16 ± 1.18); relatively weak scores in the isolation precautions (44.59 ± 0.55), HCW safety (45.59 ± 0.86), and personal protective equipment (57.64 ± 0.60); and the weakest scores in HCA-pathogen identification (27.44 ± 0.81). The year of education (r = 0.089, P = 0.144, n = 272) or internship placement (r = 0.077, P = 0.206, n = 272) had no significant influence on their level of knowledge. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that medical students at SUMC have limited knowledge and practice regarding HCAI due to substantial deficiencies in their learning resources. Review of medical curricula, improvement in preclinical and clinical training, and surveillance and monitoring of practicing HCWs are urgently needed to minimize risk of HCAIs in patients and HCWs.

Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Hand Hygiene Approach in five intensive care units in three cities of China

“…11e15 In a recent study by Huang Y et al conducted at a Chinese teaching hospital, it was reported that, due to deficiencies in learning resources and curricula, there is limited knowledge and practice between Chinese medical students regarding HAIs. 16 In particular, the importance of proper HH procedure to prevent HAI was significantly underestimated, with only 52.9% of the students considering it as the most important preventive measure for infection control. 16 Additionally, it was reported that 58.5% of students did not wash their hands between two different procedures on the same patient, and 78.3% did not follow HH practices before and after touching wounds when they used gloves.…”

“…16 In particular, the importance of proper HH procedure to prevent HAI was significantly underestimated, with only 52.9% of the students considering it as the most important preventive measure for infection control. 16 Additionally, it was reported that 58.5% of students did not wash their hands between two different procedures on the same patient, and 78.3% did not follow HH practices before and after touching wounds when they used gloves. 16 The authors thus recommended that surveillance and monitoring of practicing health care workers (HCWs) were a priority for effective infection prevention.…”

“…16 Additionally, it was reported that 58.5% of students did not wash their hands between two different procedures on the same patient, and 78.3% did not follow HH practices before and after touching wounds when they used gloves. 16 The authors thus recommended that surveillance and monitoring of practicing health care workers (HCWs) were a priority for effective infection prevention. 16 Successful interventions to improve HH have been reported from high-income countries 7e10,17e19 and limitedresource countries.…”

“…16 The authors thus recommended that surveillance and monitoring of practicing health care workers (HCWs) were a priority for effective infection prevention. 16 Successful interventions to improve HH have been reported from high-income countries 7e10,17e19 and limitedresource countries. 3,20e27 From the eighties, investigators have analyzed the effectiveness of interventions to improve HH.…”

Education of hand rubbing technique to prospective medical staff, employing UV-based digital imaging technology

“…The root causes may also include the hierarchy in healthcare [13,14], because the observed behavior greatly influences the students, serving as role model [6,15]. Investigations also revealed that medical students do not have exact knowledge about the use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) solutions, or about glove usage guidelines [6,[16][17][18][19]. Only one-third of the students claimed having rubbed their hands between seeing two patients [20].…”