Abstract:

Objective: To understand the level of awareness of tuberculosis infection control among clinical support staff in a tertiary grade A general hospital, and to provide a reference for conducting tuberculosis control training and establishing a tuberculosis infection control system for clinical support staff. Methods: Using a convenience sampling method, 200 clinical support staff members (including medical auxiliary staff, cleaning staff, and nursing aides) from a tertiary general hospital were selected as the research subjects from June to July 2025. A self-designed questionnaire on tuberculosis infection control awareness among clinical support staff in tertiary general hospitals was used for the survey. Results: A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed, with 154 valid responses, resulting in a valid response rate of 77.0%. The scores of basic disease knowledge were (7.86±1.52) for medical auxiliary staff, (6.83±1.33) for cleaning staff, and (6.45±1.54) for nursing aides. Regarding environmental control, only the difference in awareness of medical institution architectural design was statistically significant (χ²=7.308, P=0.041), with nursing aides having a lower correct rate (90.9%, 30/33) compared with medical auxiliary staff (93.2%, 41/44) and cleaning staff (98.7%, 76/77). In terms of respiratory protection, medical auxiliary staff, cleaning staff, and nursing aides performed differently in all dimensions, including core principles (correct rates: 97.7% (43/44), 79.2% (61/77), and 75.8% (25/33); χ²=18.964, P<0.001), mask selection requirements (correct rates: 95.5% (42/44), 75.3% (58/77), and 69.7% (23/33); χ²=16.247, P=0.001), mask wearing procedures (correct rates: 93.2% (41/44), 70.1% (54/77), and 60.6% (20/33); χ²=15.783, P<0.001), fit testing (correct rates: 90.9% (40/44), 66.2% (51/77), and 54.5% (18/33); χ²=17.092, P<0.001), standard mask wearing in high-risk areas (correct rates: 88.6% (39/44), 51.9% (40/77), and 51.5% (17/33); χ²=35.628, P<0.001), auxiliary protective measures (correct rates: 93.2% (41/44), 72.7% (56/77), and 66.7% (22/33); χ²=12.845, P=0.002), specialized respiratory protection training (correct rates: 86.4% (38/44), 71.4% (55/77), and 57.6% (19/33); χ²=8.972, P=0.011) standardized disposal of protective masks (correct rates: 100.0% (44/44), 72.7% (56/77), and 87.9% (29/33); χ²=16.893, P=0.006), mask replacement requirements (correct rates: 95.4% (42/44), 74.0% (57/77), and 72.7% (24/33); χ²=14.536, P<0.001), and standardized removal of masks (correct rates of 97.7% (43/44), 77.9% (60/77), and 78.8% (26/33); χ²=17.241, P=0.001). Conclusion: The awareness of tuberculosis infection control among clinical support staff in hospitals needs to be improved urgently. Managers need to implement precise intervention measures from multiple dimensions and levels, establish a complete tuberculosis infection control system, improve the awareness level of clinical support staff, standardize control behaviors, and effectively control tuberculosis infection.

Key words: Hospitals, general, Ancillary services, hospital, Personnel, hospital, Mycobacterium infections, Universal precautions, Cognition