No description available.

A descriptive correlational study was conducted to develop and test a Universal Precautions (UP) Scale designed to monitor nurses' compliance with the practice of universal precautions in the hospital setting. Subscales of the Universal Precautions Scale included barrier precautions usage, personal carefulness factors and handwashing. Nurses (n = 59) working in special care units completed the demographic survey, the UP scale, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Concurrent validity was investigated by observing handwashing behavior of a subgroup (n = 34) of those nurses surveyed. Self-report of handwashing frequency did not correlate with observed handwashing frequency, although observed handwashing adequacy did relate with self-reported handwashing adequacy and personal carefulness factors. The UP scale, as constructed, was not related to the handwashing behavior, one behavioral indicator of use of universal precautions, but has demonstrated a potential for further refinement and testing.

The purpose of the study was to develop practice guidelines to promote adherence to infection control standards in a specific hospital in Manzini, Swaziland. It was a qualitative, descriptive and explanatory design which utilised an in-depth unstructured face to face interview data collection method done to nine (9) registered nurse participants. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to identify prominent themes and patterns, smaller units of data were named and coded according to the contents they represented. Four themes emerged from data analysis, they were; working environment for nurses, nurse’s descriptions of infection control standards, nurse’s challenges regarding adherence to infection control standards and nurses expressed needs. The findings revealed possible contributing factors to non-adherence to infection control standards by participants and therefore denoted to a serious need for development of general guidelines to promote adherence to infection control standards, these guidelines were presented. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

The purpose of the study was to develop practice guidelines to promote adherence to infection control standards in a specific hospital in Manzini, Swaziland. It was a qualitative, descriptive and explanatory design which utilised an in-depth unstructured face to face interview data collection method done to nine (9) registered nurse participants. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to identify prominent themes and patterns, smaller units of data were named and coded according to the contents they represented. Four themes emerged from data analysis, they were; working environment for nurses, nurse’s descriptions of infection control standards, nurse’s challenges regarding adherence to infection control standards and nurses expressed needs. The findings revealed possible contributing factors to non-adherence to infection control standards by participants and therefore denoted to a serious need for development of general guidelines to promote adherence to infection control standards, these guidelines were presented. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)