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Determinants of Standard Precautions Performance Among Nursing Students in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the necessity of standard precautions to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Nursing students, due to limited experience and close patient contact, are at high risk of exposure. This study examined the effects of nursing professionalism, knowledge of standard precautions, and moral courage on nursing students’ performance of standard precautions in South Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 204 nursing students from 10 universities in Gwangju, South Korea. Validated instruments measured professionalism, knowledge, moral courage, and performance. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, correlations, and regression. Results: Standard precautions performance averaged 4.62/5. It was positively correlated with professionalism (r = 0.306), knowledge (r = 0.190), and moral courage (r = 0.399). Regression identified moral courage (β = 0.38, p < 0.001) and academic performance (β = 0.18, p = 0.007) as significant predictors, explaining 18.1% of variance. Conclusions: Moral courage and academic performance significantly influence nursing students’ adherence to standard precautions. Strengthening ethical competence and professional identity in education may enhance safe clinical practice.

Source: Healthcare

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13212803

Authors: Se Gyeong Jeon, Eun Jung Kim

Institutions: Chonnam National University Hospital, Honam University

Language: English

Topic: Infection Control in Healthcare

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258