SAGACITY OF HAND CLEANING IN WORKING STAFF OF HOSPITAL DOCTORS AND NURSING STAFF OF NEONATOLOGY UNIT OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT TEACHING HOSPITALS

Objective: The purpose of this research study was to gather the knowledge about the tendency of washing hands in doctors and nurses of hospital. Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The current study was carried out in the period of one month held in March, 2018 at different government medical teaching institutions. Material and Methods: This study was held to asses the knowledge and tendency of hand wash practice among health care staff of the hospital after getting NOC from ethical committee of hospitals. Doctors and nurses working in different government teaching hospitals were enrolled for study. Total of 146 persons were cross examined in the current study in the duration of one month and a questionnaire was also asked to fill by the participants of the study. After taking informed written consent and without revealing participants identity, one on one interviews were carried out to know their attitude towards hand washing practice and response was recorded on proforma. Results: According to the observations of this study it was found that 94% doctors and nurses have good knowledge about washing of hands. Among postgraduate resident doctors and in nurses Practice of hand washing technique was 59.6% and 36% respectively and in consultants it was 40.4 percent. Conclusion: Regardless of familiarity about hand washing benefits and techniques amongst doctors and nurses, hand washing practice rate was too much low. Low frequency of hand washing practice can lead to healthcare provider induced infections. Hence, it is a major cause of hospital acquired infections in infants, new born and less than 4 weeks of age. Key words: knowledge attitude and practice (KAP), nurses, Hand washing, doctors, infections