Assessment of Infection Control Practices Among Healthcare Workers Using an Online Survey Method

Abstract

Introduction: Practices for infection prevention and control (IPC) are essential to providing healthcare. Because they are frequently exposed to patients, biological fluids, and contaminated settings, healthcare workers (HCWs) are more likely to contract and spread healthcare-associated illnesses (HAIs). Reducing the spread of infections requires adherence to infection control measures such hand cleanliness, PPE, safe injection techniques, and biomedical waste management. This study used an online survey tool to evaluate healthcare professionals' infection control practices.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey with a quantitative descriptive methodology was used. 150 healthcare professionals, including nurses, doctors, and allied health specialists employed at particular Indian healthcare facilities, participated in the study. Convenience sampling was used to find participants through an online survey platform. A standardized questionnaire with questions about infection control procedures and demographic data was used to gather data. The analysis employed both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The findings revealed that 68% of healthcare workers demonstrated good infection control practices, 24% demonstrated moderate practices, and 8% demonstrated poor practices. The mean infection control practice score was 78.42±10.56. Significant associations were observed between infection control practices and professional experience, previous infection control training, and educational qualification (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The majority of healthcare workers demonstrated good infection control practices. However, gaps remain in certain areas such as consistent PPE use and biomedical waste segregation. Regular training and monitoring are recommended to strengthen infection prevention and control practices.