AUTHOR=Mohamad Nadia , Pahrol Muhammad Alfatih , Shaharudin Rafiza , Md Yazin Nik Khairol Reza , Osman Yelmizaitun , Toha Haidar Rizal , Mustapa Normazura , Mohamed Zuraida , Mohammad Azyyati , Ismail Rohaida 

TITLE=Compliance to Infection Prevention and Control Practices Among Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.878396

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.878396

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of contracting coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) at their workplace. Infection prevention guidelines and standard operating procedures were introduced to reduce risk of exposure and prevent transmission. Safe practices during interaction with COVID-19 patients are crucial in infection prevention control (IPC). This study aimed to assess HCWs’ compliance to IPC and to determine its association with sociodemographic and organizational factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2021 in public healthcare facilities in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. HCWs who were involved with COVID-19 related works were invited to participate in the online survey. The questionnaire was adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Guidance: WHO Risk Assessment and Management of Exposure of Health Care Workers in the Context of COVID-19. Respondents were categorized as compliant or noncompliant towards IPC. A total of 600 HCWs involved in COVID-19 related works participated in this survey. Most of them (63.7%) were compliant to IPC as they responded to all items as ‘always, as recommended’ during interaction with COVID-19 patients. Multivariate analysis showed noncompliance was significantly associated with working at emergency department (AOR=3.16, 95%CI=1.07-9.31), work as laboratory personnel (AOR=15.13, 95%CI=1.36-168.44), health attendant (AOR=4.42, 95%CI=1.74-11.24) and others (AOR=3.63, 95%CI=1.10-12.01), as well as work experience of more than 10 years (AOR=4.71, 95%CI=1.28-17.27). The odds of noncompliance among respondents without adequate new norms and personal protective equipment training were 2.02 (95%CI=1.08-3.81) more compared to those with adequate training. Although most respondents complied to IPC protocols, the compliance status differed according to departments, work category and years of services. Ensuring adequate training that will hopefully lead to behavioral change is crucial to prevent breach of IPC and thus minimize risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities.