KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE ABOUT HAND HYGIENE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52764/jms.26.34.3.1Keywords:
Knowledge, attitude, practices, hand hygiene, KAP, Medical students.Abstract
Objective
To evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of hand hygiene (HH) among medical students.
Material and methods
This descriptive cross-sectional study included 189 students enrolled in two medical colleges in Swat. We used the WHO healthcare worker questionnaire, which includes 25 multiple-choice and "yes" or "no" questions, to assess knowledge. We used two separate self-structured questionnaires with 10 and 6 questions, respectively, to assess attitudes and practices. We entered data from the completed questionnaires into a computerized database for analysis. In the descriptive analyses, we reported continuous variables as medians and categorical variables as frequencies and proportions.
Results
Among medical students, HH knowledge was moderate: 135 out of 189 (71.4%), and only 26 out of 189 (13.7%) had good knowledge. Regarding HH, most students had negative attitudes. Only 15 out of 189 (8%) had good attitudes. Most students had poor HH practices. Only 18 out of 189 (9.5%) had good HH practices.
Conclusion
In our study, most medical students had only moderate knowledge of HH, but their attitudes and actual practices were often poor. Improving their understanding and habits is crucial for preventing hospital infections and reducing healthcare costs. To achieve this, we need comprehensive plans that align with WHO and CDC guidelines. Teachers should teach students about the importance of HH and its effects on patients and on themselves. Clinical instructors should monitor students' HH practices during rotations to encourage better habits.
Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, practices, hand hygiene, KAP, Medical students.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ameer Afzal Khan, Rahman Saeed, Ubaidullah, Bilal Iqbal
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