ABSTRACT
Introduction: Healthcare-associated infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Hand hygiene is regarded as the most effective method of prevention but is poorly performed by health workers. Maintaining adequate hand hygiene remains amongst the three requisites of good health. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge regarding different hand sanitation techniques and various factors responsible for non-compliance among students of Peshawar Medical College
Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey based on self-administered questionnaire carried out at Peshawar Medical College. Self-designed questionnaire was distributed and responses obtained from students after their informed consents. SPSS 15 was used for analyzing data
Results: Response rate of the students was 51.6%. In total 87[56.1%] students were male and 68[43.9%] were female. Prevention in transmission of resistant microbes among patients in clinical settings was reported negative by the students [65.8%], the seven standardized steps were known by 42.6% of the students whereas 39.6% students applied it in clinical settings
Conclusion: Awareness about standardized steps of hand sanitation was not adequate among these medical students in the clinical settings; using soap and water for hand sanitation was found to be an effective tool for reducing surface tension between dirt and skin. Non-availability of hand sanitizers and careless attitude to medical students was considered as one of poor compliances. Findings may be considered important in controlling various factors responsible for poor adherence to different hand hygiene practices among medical students in clinical settings