Infection control is a critical aspect of surgical settings, and ensuring medical students are well-prepared is essential for patient safety. This study focuses on clinical medical students in Sudan and their infection control competency in surgical environments.
The research reveals a concerning trend: while most students demonstrate moderate knowledge and practice, there are notable gaps in training and resource availability. Only a small percentage achieve high scores across all domains, indicating a need for improvement.
The study highlights the importance of effective infection prevention and control measures, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Sudan, where infrastructure and resources may be limited. Proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to sterile techniques are key to reducing healthcare-associated infections.
However, compliance with these measures is inconsistent, influenced by factors such as time constraints, hierarchical barriers, and limited resources. In Sudan, healthcare institutions face challenges in implementing effective infection control protocols, with inconsistent access to PPE and inadequate sterilization infrastructure.
Clinical medical students, particularly those in surgical rotations, are at a critical stage of professional development. Their early clinical experiences shape their long-term attitudes and behaviors towards patient safety and infection control. Yet, many receive minimal formal training in infection control, and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices often fall short.
The study identifies key deficiencies in hand hygiene, PPE sequencing, and sterile field management. It also reveals a lack of confidence among students in addressing breaches in infection control practices and a reluctance to challenge peers or superiors. Interestingly, students who had not completed surgical rotations had higher attitude scores, suggesting that direct clinical exposure may impact their perception of infection control protocols.
To address these issues, the study recommends targeted educational interventions, enhanced supervision, and improved access to infection control supplies. Integrating structured, simulation-based training, increasing supervision during surgical rotations, and ensuring access to resources are crucial steps towards strengthening infection control practices among medical students in Sudan.
The findings emphasize the urgent need to enhance infection control education within Sudanese medical schools, not only to safeguard patient safety but also to prepare the future healthcare workforce for routine surgical risks and potential public health emergencies.
