The Effect of Infection Control Session on Nursing Students' Knowledge and Compliance with Standard Precautions at Hassan College of Nursing, Swat

Background: Healthcare-associated infections remain a major concern for patient and healthcare worker safety, particularly in clinical training settings where nursing students are exposed to occupational hazards such as needle-stick injuries and contact with blood and body fluids. Inadequate knowledge and poor adherence to standard precautions can increase the risk of infection transmission. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an infection control educational session on nursing students’ knowledge and adherence to standard precautions at Hassan College of Nursing, Swat. Methodology: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design was employed among 121 nursing students selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge of infection control, and adherence to standard precautions. An educational intervention on infection control practices was conducted. Data analysis was performed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 27, applying descriptive statistics, paired sample t-test, and chi-square test. Results: Post-intervention findings revealed a significant improvement in both knowledge and adherence. Good knowledge increased from 19.8% to 60.3%, while high adherence rose from 19.0% to 59.5%. Paired t-test results indicated statistically significant improvements (p = 0.001), and a significant association between knowledge and adherence was observed (p = 0.003). Conclusion: The educational intervention significantly enhanced nursing students’ knowledge and compliance with infection control practices.