Level of Knowledge of Outpatients with the Habit of Handwashing with Soap in Infection Prevention and Control in Hospitals

Abstract

Hospitals are places that are full of risk for sources of infection with high numbers of microorganisms. Visitors, especially patients, can become carriers that spread germs in the hospital environment. Patients have an important role in controlling nosocomial infections. One effort that can be done to prevent infection is washing hands, this is done because hands are often agents that carry germs and cause pathogens to move from one person to another. Washing hands with water and soap can more effectively remove dirt and dust mechanically from the surface of the skin and significantly reduce the number of disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and other parasites. The aim of the research was to determine the level of knowledge of outpatients regarding the habit of washing hands with soap. in infection prevention and control in hospitals. This research uses a quantitative method using a cross sectional design, the sampling technique in this research uses a purposive sampling technique, where the sample size in this research is 30 people. Inclusion criteria in this study included outpatient respondents who were willing to become research respondents, by signing an informed consent sheet and respondents being able to read and write. The research instrument used is a questionnaire that has been tested for validation and reliability. The data analysis technique used in this research is bivariate analysis with the chi-square test which is carried out to determine whether or not there is a relationship between the two variables according to the results of filling out the questionnaire, namely the knowledge and behavior questionnaire and so on. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Based on the results of research that has been carried out, with a sample size of 30 respondents, the results showed that respondents with good knowledge and good behavior in terms of the habit of washing hands with soap were 20 respondents (90.9%), respondents with knowledge of good hand washing habits but bad behavior as many as 2 respondents (91.9%). So from the statistical test results, the p value = 0.000 (α < 0.05). This shows that there is a relationship between the knowledge variable and the behavior of washing hands with soap.