Compliance with Standard Precautions Among Operating Room Nurses at a University Hospital, Egypt| Biomed Grid

Standard precautions (SPs) have been introduced as means to protect health care workers (HCWs) from exposure to blood borne pathogens (BBPs). Few studies have been conducted to identify the level of compliance with SPs among nurses. Aim: This study determined the level of compliance with SPs among operating room (OR) nurses. Design: A cross sectional survey was carried out in this study. Sample: A convenient sample of 37 OR nurses working in the morning shift. Setting: The sample was recruited from three specialty areas (general, cardiothoracic and orthopedic surgery) at a university hospital, Egypt. Methodology: A Compliance Assessment Sheet (CAS) consisted of two sections; The first section was used to collect self-reported data on (A) Demographic variables related to the OR observed subject and (B) Background data related to OR nurses' variables; The second section was observation checklist that identified the occurrence of eight SP practices. Results: The result showed low compliance level with SPs. None of OR nurses in the three specialty areas complied with goggles wear. The highest level of compliance with SPs was among OR nurses in cardiothoracic surgery; while general surgery was the lowest in compliance. Conclusion: The study concluded that, the levels of compliance among OR nurses under the study were low Recommendation: The results can be used to enhance nurses' safety by focusing on areas of non-compliance