Hand hygiene beliefs and self-reported practices among health profession students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Hand hygiene is essential for infection prevention, yet self-reported practices may be influenced by individual beliefs and previous training. This study examined the relationship between hand hygiene beliefs and self-reported practices among health profession students. This cross-sectional analytical study included 432 students enrolled in Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, First Aid and Emergency Care, and Elderly Care programs at a state university in Eastern Anatolia, Türkiye. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Hand Hygiene Belief Scale (HHBS), and the Hand Hygiene Practice Inventory (HHPI). Group comparisons, Spearman correlation, and exploratory path analysis were performed. Mean HHBS and HHPI scores were 80.23±13.64 and 63.46±9.31, respectively. Female students had higher HHBS and HHPI scores than males (p<0.05). Prior hand hygiene training was associated with higher HHBS scores (p<0.05). HHPI scores differed by academic year (p<0.01). HHBS and HHPI scores were weakly positively correlated (r=0.275, p<0.001). A small statistical indirect association between prior training and HHPI through HHBS was observed (β=0.06, 95% CI: 0.028-0.099). Stronger hand hygiene beliefs were associated with more frequent self-reported practices, although the observed associations were modest and should not be interpreted causally.