Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Perceived Benefits of Interventional Structured Infection Prevention and Control Training Module Introduced in the Undergraduate Medical Curricula

Abstract

Introduction: Assessing and improving infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge and practicing skills among medical students who are the future medical practitioners is crucial for reducing the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). In this study, we assessed the IPC knowledge of undergraduate clinical-year medical students before and after interventional IPC modular training and evaluated the effectiveness and students’perception on structured modular IPC training presented to them.Methods: This cross-sectional interventional study was conducted on single medical cohort comprising of 145 final-yearundergraduate medical students of the academic year 2022-23 at COMHS. Pre-test, post-test, and feedback questionnaire were used as the assessing tools. The data were collected, entered into Excel sheet, and analyzed using SPSS software version 22. McNemar and Paired-T tests were carried out, and a P-value90%) perceived IPC training as an excellent tool to improve IPC knowledge and practicing skills.Conclusion: IPC training had a significant impact in gaining adequate IPC knowledge and practicing skills among ourparticipants. Therefore, it is recommended that IPC training should be implemented in the undergraduate medical curriculum with greater emphasis on practicing skills.

Keywords

• hand hygiene
• healthcare
• infection
• needlestick injuries
• personal protective equipment