Abstract BACKGROUND: Standard precautions (SPs) are recommended safety measures for healthcare professionals to follow, with a view to preventing healthcare-related infections (HCRIs) and for their own protection. Inadequate adherence to these measures can lead to occurrences of occupational accidents and HCRIs. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the knowledge of and adherence to SP measures among the nursing staff of a hemodialysis service and the relationship of these variables to occurrences of work accidents with biological material. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive cross-sectional and correlational study with a quantitative approach developed in a hemodialysis clinic in Minas Gerais. METHODS: Data were collected through sociodemographic questionnaires and questionnaires on knowledge of and adherence to SPs. RESULTS: 29 professionals participated in the study. It is noteworthy that all of them had already participated in training related to SPs. However, no relationship was identified between knowledge of (15.17 points) and adherence to (71.86 points) SPs. In addition, inferential analysis showed that there was a relationship between suffering a work accident with biological material and the sociodemographic data and knowledge of and adherence to standard precautions. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the SPs that had been established did not mean mastery of the subject. Despite positive results regarding adherence, factors requiring improvement were observed. It was possible to infer the characteristics that gave rise to greater risk of occurrences of accidents at work. Thus, this study showed the importance of assessing knowledge of and adherence to SP, in order to optimize and direct continuing education towards resolving occupational exposure.

ABSTRACT Assess adherence and knowledge to Standard Precautions (SP) and the impact of individual, work-related and organizational factors on the adherence of the nursing team to the aforementioned safety measures. Cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive study using the following instruments: socio-demographic questionnaire, Standard Precautions Adherence Questionnaire (SPAQ), SP Knowledge Questionnaire (SPKQ) and eight scales referring to an explanatory model of SP adherence. The final sample consisted of 172 professionals. The SPAQ obtained a mean of 71.94 points (SD = 6.40) and the SPKC, 15.44 (SD ± 1.48). Significant correlation (p≤0.001) between adherence and personality of risk, perception of risk, perception of obstacles to follow SP, training and availability of PPE was verified. We conclude that psychosocial and organizational factors were correlated with adherence. No statistical significance was found for the impact of knowledge on adherence to SP. However, it is necessary to raise awareness of the multifaceted nature of adherence to those referred to as security, which pervade individual but also organizational factors and therefore require direct and permanent involvement of management of health institutions, through education in health and infrastructure needed for safe behavior.

RESUMO Avaliar a adesão e conhecimento às Precauções-padrão (PP) e o impacto de fatores individuais, relativos ao trabalho e organizacionais na adesão da equipe de enfermagem as referidas medidas de segurança. Estudo transversal, correlacional, descritivo, por meio dos seguintes instrumentos: questionário sociodemográfico, Questionário de Adesão às PP (QAPP), Questionário de Conhecimento sobre as PP (QCPP) e oito escalas referentes a um modelo explicativo de adesão às PP. A amostra final constitui-se de 172 profissionais. O QAPP obteve média de 71,94 pontos (DP = 6,40) e o QCPP, 15,44 (DP±1,48). Verificado correlação significativa (p≤0,001) entre a adesão e a personalidade de risco, percepção de risco, percepção de obstáculos para seguir as PP, treinamento e disponibilidade de EPI. Conclui-se os fatores psicossociais e organizacionais estiveram correlacionados à adesão. Não foi encontrada significância estatística do impacto do conhecimento na adesão às PP. No entanto, faz-se necessário a conscientização do caráter multifacetado da adesão às referidas de segurança, que perpassam fatores individuais, mas também organizacionais e que, portanto, necessitam de envolvimento direto e permanente da gestão das instituições de saúde, por meio de educação em saúde e infraestrutura necessária para comportamentos seguros.

RESUMEN Evaluar la adhesión y conocimiento a las Precauciones Estándar (PE) y el impacto de factores individuales, relativos al trabajo y organizacionales en la adhesión del equipo de enfermería a dichas medidas de seguridad. Estudio transversal, correlacional, descriptivo, por medio de los siguientes instrumentos: cuestionario sociodemográfico, cuestionario de Adhesión a las PE (CAPE), Cuestionario de Conocimiento sobre las PE (CCPE) y ocho escalas referentes a un modelo explicativo de adhesión a las PE. La muestra final se compone de 172 profesionales. El CAPE obtuvo un promedio de 71,94 puntos (DP = 6,40) y el CCPE, 15,44 (DP ± 1,48). Se verificó una correlación significativa (p≤0,001) entre la adhesión y la personalidad de riesgo, percepción de riesgo, percepción de obstáculos para seguir las PE, entrenamiento y disponibilidad de EPI. Se concluye que los factores psicosociales y organizacionales estuvieron correlacionados con la adhesión. No se encontró significancia estadística del impacto del conocimiento en la adhesión a las PE. Sin embargo, se hace necesario la concienciación del carácter multifacético de la adhesión a las referidas de seguridad, que atraviesan factores individuales, pero también organizacionales y que, por lo tanto, necesitan de implicación directa y permanente de la gestión de las instituciones de salud, por medio de educación en la salud y la infraestructura necesaria para comportamientos seguros.