Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to compare the impact of a four-day structured Basic Infection Prevention and Control course on the knowledge of, and adherence to, Standard Precautions in clinical nursing practice amongst nurses who had completed the course and those who did not. The specific precautionary measures of investigation included hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) and sharps management. The secondary aim of the study was to identify any personal and contextual factors that influenced the application of such Standard Precautions measures in public healthcare facilities within the Cape Winelands and Overberg District. Sixty eight students (those who had been trained) with a similar number of controls (who had not been trained) were enrolled in the study. Although both the participants and controls had the knowledge, their adherence to hand hygiene, PPE and sharps management in clinical nursing practice was poor. Staff attitude was found to be the main factor for non-adherence. The knowledge of the participants was good as they had answered most of the questions correctly. It seems as if there was retention of knowledge after the four-day Basic Infection Prevention and Control course. There were, however, no significant differences between the two groups. For both groups attitude and behavioural change must be addressed in order to improve adherence to hand hygiene, PPE and sharps management. The findings of the study will form recommendations towards improved infection prevention and control practices at public healthcare facility level in the Cape Winelands District. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die impak van 'n 4-dag gestruktureerde Basiese Infeksiebeheerkursus op die kennis en toepassing van Standaard Voorsorgmaatreëls in kliniese praktyk in die Kaapse Wynland en Overberg Distrikte ondersoek, vergeleke met 'n groep wat nie die kursus bygewoon het nie. Die spesifieke Voorsorgmaatreëls wat ondersoek is, het handhigiëne, die gebruik van beskermende drag en die hantering en beheer van skerpvoorwerpe ingesluit. Die studie het ook gekyk na enige kontekstuele en persoonlike faktore wat die toepassing van Standaard Voorsorgmaatreëls in openbare gesondheidsorgfasiliteite beïnvloed. Agt en sestig verpleegkundiges het die 4-dag Basiese Infeksiebeheerkursus bygewoon en 'n gelyke aantal kontrole studente het nie die kursus bygewoon nie. Alhoewel beide groepe die kennis van handhigiëne, die dra van beskermende drag en die hantering van skerpvoorwerpe gehad het, was die toepassing van die Standaard Voorsorgmaatreëls in kliniese praktyk baie swak. Personeel se houding was die grootste faktor wat gelei het tot die nie-toepassing van Standaard Voorsorgmaatreëls. Die kennis van die kursusgangers was goed, want albei groepe het die meeste van die vrae korrek beantwoord. Die waarneming wat gemaak is, is dat die kursusgangers se kennis wel verbeter het na die bywoning van die 4-dag Basiese Infeksiebeheerkursus. Data weerspieël egter geen noemenswaardige verskille tussen die groepe nie. Beide groepe se houding en gedrag moet aangespreek word om die toepassing van handhigiëne, die dra van beskermende drag en die hantering van skerpvoorwerpe te verbeter. Die bevindinge van die studie sal gebruik word om aanbevelings te maak ten einde infeksiebeheerpraktyke in die Kaapse Wynland Distrik te verbeter.