Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Hand Hygiene, Wearing Mask, and Social Distancing among the Public Hospital and Polyclinic Nurses in Barbados Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Nurses are essential members of the healthcare workforce and  were among the first-line carers for patients in community and hospital  settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they were at a  heightened risk of infection, resulting in several reported deaths among  nursing staff. Several preventive measures were adopted to contain the  spread of the COVID-19 virus. This study aims to explore the knowledge,  attitudes, and practices (KAP) of nurses regarding hand hygiene, mask  wearing, and social distancing measures in healthcare settings in  Barbados during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: An online survey of  nurses working in public hospitals and polyclinics (public primary care  clinics) in Barbados from March 2021 to December 2021 was conducted. A  nonsystematic convenience sampling method was employed to recruit nurses  who were readily available and willing to participate. A questionnaire  captured the sociodemographic information and knowledge and practices  related to hand hygiene, the use of face masks, and social distancing.  Each correct response received one mark. Overall knowledge scores were  categorized as poor (<60%), average (60–80%), or good (>80–100%).  Results: Of the 192 participants, the majority were female (82.8%) and  had >5 years of experience (82%). The findings revealed that 45.8%  had poor knowledge of hand hygiene, and that the knowledge of 43.8% of  respondents was average. Multivariable logistic regression showed that,  after adjustment for age and gender, registered nurses had 2.1 times  increased odds (95% confidence interval 1.0, 4.2) of having good  knowledge compared to other nursing categories. Regarding mask wearing,  53.6% of nurses had average knowledge, and 27.1% had good knowledge.  Multivariable logistic regression showed that, after adjustment for age  and gender, registered nurses had 3.3 times increased odds (95%  confidence interval 1.5, 7.4) of having good knowledge compared to  nursing assistants. A total of 68.6% of respondents followed the correct  steps of handwashing every time, and 98.3% wore a mask in public  places. More than half of the nurses (51.2%) kept a safe distance from  others to avoid spreading SARS-CoV-2; one-third were in a crowded  place(s) in the past three months, and 55.8% usually followed guidelines  for social isolation as recommended by the WHO. Conclusions: The study  identified knowledge deficiencies related to hand hygiene and wearing  masks among nurses. It is imperative to provide additional training on  infection control measures.