Background: This study analyzed the influence of individual and environmental factors on infection control practices among nurses in small to medium-sized hospitals of South Korea during the pandemic.
Methods: We enrolled 171 nurses from five infectious disease specialized hospitals with 200 to 299 beds located in metropolitan areas of South Korea. Individual factors, including general characteristics, COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and risk perception, and environmental factor including COVID-19 safety climate, were collected using self-report questionnaires. Individual and environmental factors were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.
Results: COVID-19-related safety climate (β=.423) had the greatest association with infection control practices, followed by COVID-19-related attitude (β=.174). Higher safety climate and attitude scores were associated with higher scores in infection control practices. The explanatory power of these variables was 30.6%.
Conclusion: This study indicated that safety climate and COVID-19-related attitudes significantly influence infection control practices in small to medium-sized hospitals. This provides a basis to establish policies for responses to emerging infectious diseases in small to medium-sized hospitals, and contribute to consistent guidelines.
Keywords: COVID-19-related attitude; infection control practice; safety climate; small to medium-sized hospitals.
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.