Association between infection prevention and control (IPC) safety culture and healthcare workers' compliance with infection control measures: A cross-sectional study

Yisui Cen¹Chuyu Lao²Zihuan Li³Huiwen Zhao⁴Tian Wang³Cuiqiong Fan³Baohong Liu³Zhenyao Zhao⁵Ya Zou³Guanwen Lin^3*

• ¹Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
• ²The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
• ³Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
• ⁴Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
• ⁵Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) safety culture is recognized as a crucial factor in improving healthcare workers’ (HCWs) compliance with IPC measures. Despite its importance, evidence regarding the influence of IPC safety culture on compliance remains limited and warrants further investigation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 27 to April 3, 2025, using an online questionnaire to examine the association between IPC safety culture and HCWs’ compliance with IPC measures across more than 200 healthcare institutions, including 12 tertiary hospitals. Results: A total of 1,600 questionnaires were distributed, of which 1,471 were valid (91.94%). HCWs aged over 30 years, with more than 5 years of work experience, and holding a Master’s degree or higher had higher IPC safety culture scores compared with their counterparts (p < 0.05). Similarly, HCWs aged over 30 years, with more than 5 years of experience, a Master’s degree or higher, and possessing clinical teaching qualifications demonstrated higher compliance with IPC measures compared with their counterparts (p < 0.05). Linear correlation analysis showed that basic IPC competence was strongly correlated with all dimensions of IPC compliance (r = 0.70, 0.63, 0.62, 0.63, 0.64, and 0.58, p < 0.001). Hospital management climate, departmental team cooperation, organizational learning and continuous improvement, and reporting frequency of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) adverse events were weakly to moderately correlated with IPC compliance (p < 0.001). Based on a median score of 4.95 (IQR 4.77-5.00), 840 participants (57.10%) were classified as having good compliance, and 631 (42.90%) as poor compliance. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that clinical instructor status (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.46–1.79), basic IPC competence (OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.73–1.99), hospital management climate (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.08–2.10), reporting frequency of HAIs adverse events (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.19–1.54), and organizational learning and continuous improvement (OR = 3.59, 95% CI: 2.68–4.80) as independent predictors of IPC compliance. Conclusions: IPC safety culture significantly affects HCWs’ adherence to IPC measures. Enhancing basic IPC competence, hospital management support, organizational learning, reporting practices, and targeted interventions for clinical instructors can improve compliance and help prevent HAIs.