Awareness and Performance on Standard Precautions of Hospital-acquired Infection Control in Nursing Students: The Mediating Effect of Internal Health Locus of Control / 한국간호교육학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the status of performance on standard precautions among nursing students and to examine the mediating effects of internal health locus of control on the relationship between awareness and performance on standard precautions of hospital-acquired infection control. METHODS: The participants in this study were 134 nursing students. The measurements included a standard precautions awareness and performance scale, and a multidimensional health locus of control scale. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and simple and multiple regression techniques. Mediation analysis was performed by the Baron and Kenny's method and Sobel test. RESULTS: The mean score of standard awareness, standard performance, and internal health locus of control about standard precaution were 174.30±9.08; 169.48±12.04; and 20.43±2.82; respectively. There was a positive correlation between standard awareness and performance (r=.414, p<.001). Also, standard awareness was significantly correlated with internal health locus of control (r=.413, p=.014). Internal health locus of control showed partial mediating effects in the relationship between awareness and performance. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to improve the internal health locus of control of nursing students. Therefore, an internal health locus of control improvement program should improve performance on standard precautions for patients and themselves.