Vinod Nambiar
Oman Medical College, Oman
Title: Effectiveness of an infection control teaching module – A study among undergraduate medical students in Oman
Biography
Biography: Vinod Nambiar
Abstract
Background: Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and significant economic loss in health care systems worldwide. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding HAI and the infection control (IC) procedures remains a challenge for undergraduate medical students before they start their actual clinical training and also, to the faculty who are responsible to train them in IC domains.
Methods: Th e study was conducted among the fifth-year medical students undergoing MICB-501 (Immunity, Infection and Disease) course of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, NUST, Oman. A ‘Hospital acquired infection and Infection control practices’ teaching module consisting of a two hours lecture series, three hours hospital-based demonstration and practical sessions by the hospital infection control team and a half hour video show on IC practices was implemented. Student’s feedback in the form of self-coded structured questionnaires pertaining to questions on KAP on HAI and IC practices were done before and after implementation of this module. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 21(IBM). Paired sample t test was used to compare the means between pre-course test and post-course test. Study was approved by Research and Ethics committee.
Results: Of the 122 students in the class, 89(73%) completed the educational module and the questionnaire responses. Final results showed that overall KAP about HAI and IC of participants improved significantly due to the educational intervention. (Pre-course test mean = 37.1±6.09 and post-course test mean 45.13±3.73, p<0.001). The practice domain showed marked improvement. This may be due to the involvement of the hospital infection control team in the practical and demonstration sessions. Only 58% of the students feel that the current curriculum provides enough information on IC. Over 87% of the students agree to the need for such educational intervention modules on Infection control.
Conclusion: Implementing an infection control teaching module in medical schools with involvement of hospital infection control team will help the undergraduate medical students to improve their KAP on HAI and infection control.