The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55295

Joerg Klewer, MD PhD¹, Helmut Lauschke, MD PhD², Francisco Guillen-Grima³, Irena Aguinaga-Ontoso³, Stefan Sekula, MD⁴, Uwe Tracogna, MD PhD¹, and Joachim Kugler, MD PhD¹. (1) Public Health, Dresden Medical School, IMIB-Fetscherstr. 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany, 0049-351-3177217, Joklewer@aol.com, (2) Dept. of Orthopaedics, Oshakati Regional Hospital, Private Bag X5501, Oshakati, Namibia, (3) Dept. of Health Sciences, University of Navarre, Avda Baranain s/n, Pamplona, 31008, Spain, (4) Woiwodship Hospital A. Sokolowskiego, ul. A. Sokolowskiego 4, Walbrzych, Poland

Due to various contacts to patients, nursing staff is at risk to acquire infectious diseases. Several recent studies have shown gaps in the knowledge of nursing staff about this issue, without analysing the underlying influences. The purpose of this study was to analyze assessments by nursing staff from countries on factors influencing the risk of contracting infectious diseases. In this multi-center-study nursing staff from Germany, Namibia, Poland and Spain (n=529) assessed the influence of risk behavior, stress/ emotional strain, environmental factors, genetic factors and destiny on the risk of contracting infectious diseases. In general, the investigated nursing staff emphasized risk behavior and environmental factors to be essential factors for contracting infectious diseases. The influences of other factors were seen as less important. The results indicate that subjective perceptions on the risk of contracting infectious diseases are a general phenomenon in nursing staff. Nursing education should consider these personal viewpoints, to avoid misconceptions about the etiology of infectious diseases and to improve prevention of infections.

Learning Objectives:

• After the presentation the participants should be informed about subjective perceptions on the risk of contracting infectious diseases in nursing staff from Germany, Namibia, Poland and Spain. The participant should also know, that these subjective perceptions are a general phenomenon in nursing staff from different countries.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.