The extent of compliance with infection prevention and control among nursing students of University of Nizwa

Background: Healthcare professionals, especially nursing students, play a crucial role in patient care and face various infection risks during their clinical training. Therefore, their compliance to infection prevention and control standard precaution is essential to prevent healthcare-associated infections and protect patient safety (Alshammari et al., 2018). This study focuses on evaluating the compliance of nursing students at the University of Nizwa with IPC standard precaution during their clinical placements in diverse healthcare environments. Nursing students are expected to comply with IPC standard precaution, but their level of compliance may vary due to factors such as training, clinical supervision, and their year level. Studies have shown that gaps in compliance can contribute to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), making it essential to monitor and enhance IPC standard precaution during clinical placements. Objective: This study aimed to assess the extent of compliance with IPC standard precaution among nursing students at the University of Nizwa and to examine the association between selected demographic factors and compliance levels. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 122 nursing students. The sample size was calculated and participants were selected using stratified random sampling to ensure representation of students undergoing clinical training. A structured questionnaire containing 22 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale was used to assess IPC compliance. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and kruskul-Wallis and annova test was applied to examine association between demographic variables and compliance levels. Results: Results showed no significant differences in IPC compliance based on prior training (p = 0.056) or clinical placement experience (p = 0.355). However, a significant difference was found based on academic year (p