Abstract
Aim The aim of this study was to assess compliance with standard precautions by Saudi nursing interns who were undergoing their internship training in four governmental tertiary teaching hospitals in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to determine factors predictive of this. Background Cross-transmission and infection prevention when delivering care must be strictly followed by nursing interns by complying with standard precautions during internship training. Design The study employed a descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional design. Methods A total of 224 nursing interns participated in the study by completing the Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale Arabic version between March 2017 and June 2017. Results/Findings A high overall compliance rate (84.8%) was observed. Nursing interns reported the highest compliance score in changing gloves between each patient contact and the lowest score in disposing of sharps boxes only when full. Nursing interns in hospital D showed the highest compliance rate over those in other hospitals. Age, sex, marital status, months in internship training and attendance of nursing interns in infection control seminars/trainings influenced their standard precautions compliance. Conclusion The study revealed good compliance by nursing interns with standard precautions. However, regular educational and clinical interventions are still needed to improve some areas and to ensure the continuity of high levels of compliance in other areas of standard precautions among nursing interns.