McCune, VictoriaPearce, Mark SManiatopoulos, GregoryAldhamy, Haifa Omar2024-11-262024-11https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14154/73820Background Medical laboratories are required to follow health and safety regulations to minimise occupational risks to laboratory staff. Without knowledge of and adherence to appropriate controls and procedures, laboratory acquired infection (LAIs) can result in morbidity and mortality to staff. The prevention and reduction of LAIs is a key priority for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) healthcare system as part of its infection prevention and control (IPC)/biosafety programme. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore the implementation of the IPC/biosafety programme from the laboratory staff viewpoint and to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of recommended polices and procedures. Methods A mixed-methods study design, combining quantitative (survey) and qualitative (semistructured interviews) methods was employed. The study was conducted in three hospitals (two public, and one private in KSA. Participants included laboratory staff, allied health professionals and infection control specialists. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis. Qualitative data were analysed using the Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) framework. Results King Abdulaziz Medical City participants had the highest mean knowledge scores (9.81). Hayat National Hospital participants had the highest median attitude scores (53.5). Participants who received training had the highest median practice scores (52.0). There was a positive correlation between the knowledge and practice scores (r= 0.32, p= 0.003). Several themes regarding the implementation of safety guidelines were identified using NPTs four constructs, such as; awareness and risk perception of LAIs; valuing the benefits of guidelines; compliance with implementing guidelines; assessment and monitoring of guidelines implementation and facilitators of guidelines implementation. Conclusion Although the majority of participants had high scores on knowledge, attitude and practice, there were some differences between hospitals, confirming the need for standardisation among hospitals and continuous education and training. Staff were also aware of the risk of LAIs, and value of implementing guidelines to minimise occupational risk. However, factors such as lack of organisational support and lack of resources affected the implementation process. The need for a comprehensive action plan from the Ministry of Health and the General Directorate for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities to facilitate the implementation of the IPC program was regarded as critical to the uptake of safety guidelines.282enHealth and safetyInfection prevention and controlLaboratory staffKnowledgeAttitudePracticeImplementationThesis