Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Iranian Medical Students Regarding Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ayazianmavi, Sara; Rostami, Maryam; Shamsizadeh, Ahmad; Esmaeili, Hossein

year 20, Issue 1 (January - February 2026) Iran J Med Microbiol 2026, 20(1): 47-55 | Back to browse issues page

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Ayazianmavi S, Rostami M, Shamsizadeh A, Esmaeili H. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Iranian Medical Students Regarding Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study. Iran J Med Microbiol 2026; 20 (1) :47-55
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2599-en.html

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Iranian Medical Students Regarding Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sara Ayazianmavi¹

, Maryam Rostami²

, Ahmad Shamsizadeh³

, Hossein Esmaeili¹

1- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
2- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , m6326726@gmail.com
3- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract: (303 Views)

Background and Aim: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections acquired in healthcare settings that are not present at admission and contribute to morbidity, mortality, and financial burden worldwide. Healthcare workers play a critical role in preventing HAIs, and adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) are essential for effective infection control. This study evaluated KAP regarding HAI prevention among medical students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 200 medical students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences over 3 months. A validated 34-item questionnaire was used to assess knowledge (12 items), attitude (8 items), and practice (14 items) on a 5-point Likert scale.
Results & Conclusion: One hundred fifty students completed the survey (response rate: 75%). Mean scores were 42.4±4.5 for knowledge, 30.9±3.3 for attitude, and 52.1±5.5 for practice. Notable gaps were observed in hand hygiene (HH) and biomedical waste disposal. No significant association was found between KAP scores and gender, internship duration, or prior HAIs training. Iranian medical students demonstrated moderate KAP regarding HAI prevention, with deficiencies HH and waste management. The low proportion of students with prior HAI training highlights the need for structured educational interventions, including simulation-based HH training and targeted waste-management workshops before clinical rotations to improve infection control and patient safety.

Keywords: Attitude Healthcare-associated Infections, Infection Control, Knowledge, Medical Students, Practice

Full-Text [PDF 473 kb] (25 Downloads)

Type of Study: Brief Original Article | Subject: Nosocomial infections
Received: 2025/11/23 | Accepted: 2026/02/18 | ePublished: 2026/02/28

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