Investigating the knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns of operating room staff towards standard and transmission-based precautions: results of a cluster analysis

To examine the relationship on knowledge, attitudes and practice levels of operating room staff towards the standard precautions and transmission-based precautions, and to identify profiles of them based on their demographic variables and their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the standard precautions and the transmission-based precautions. During January 2006, 113 staff working in the operating room of a public hospital completed a self-reported questionnaire. Demographic information, knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were collected. Two-step cluster analysis yielded two clusters. Clusters 1 and 2 consisted of 50.4% (n = 57) and 49.6% (n = 56), respectively. Cluster 1 subjects were younger, had a higher educational attainment level and worked at a more senior level than Cluster 2 subjects. They reported good knowledge, positive attitudes and practices. Cluster 2 subjects were characterized by relatively poor knowledge, negative attitudes and practices. Significant differences towards standard and transmission-based precautions were found between clusters, except attitudes towards choosing protective personal equipment (p = 0.095) and practices on wearing gowns and eye shields/goggles (p = 0.759). Attitudes of Cluster 2 staffs were highly significant, but weakly correlated with practices (r(s) = 0.39, p < 0.05). This study clearly profiles knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns of operating room staff, which may benefit healthcare educators in planning and developing appropriate educational programmes, may help organizations to provide a safe workplace climate and may aid healthcare workers to learn the importance of personal responsibility in preventing infectious disease transmission to patients, co-workers and even themselves. To date, the only protection against infection is to minimize risk by modifying behaviour and practice patterns. Education and communication play a major role of the precautions. Tailoring interventions to fit different specific groups of operating room staff is needed to improve compliance with the standard and transmission-based precautions.