| dc.description.abstract | Background: Hospital-acquired infection (HAI) is a significant challenge in healthcare facilities; It can cause morbidity, mortality, high emotional and financial burdens on the patients and personnel. Hence, preventing HAI has high priority, can save lives and reduce health-related expenses. While preventive measures have been established to reduce the phenomenon, the prevalence of HAI is high in many settings. An important factor responsible for HAI prevention is healthcare workers’ (HCWs) behavior and adherence toward infection control practices (ICP), and by identifying the barriers which hinder personnel’s adherence, preventing HAI can be improved./ Aim: This study aims to gain insight into HCWs’ perceptions of ICP and, based on their knowledge and experiences, identifies barriers that can affect personnel’s adherence to preventive practice. Aligned with the secondary objectives, this study investigates the role of self-protection knowledge as a motivator factor in increasing adherence to ICP. Furthermore, the research evaluates the effect of the COVID pandemic on personnel’s preventive practice./ Method: Using a qualitative approach, the data was collected via semi-structured in-depth individual interviews of 13 active healthcare personnel in hospitals, Tehran, Iran. A purposive combination of criterion and snowball sampling to reach out to the rich-information participants while considering the occupational diversity was used. Collected data in hand notes and recorded audios were transcribed with the modified verbatim technique and then translated. Both Thematic content analysis and Negative case analysis were applied in the analyzing phase using NVivo 12 software./ Results: In this study, analyzed data were able to identify various themes concerning roles and barriers affecting the healthcare personnel’s ICP based on their perceptions. Participants’ knowledge of HAI and preventive measures were adequate; they presented good basic academic knowledge, but their field knowledge lacked total dominance. Both self-protection knowledge and its motivational effect on practice were identified as crucial nevertheless, barriers such as understaffing, financial needs and, overworking reduced its effectiveness. Results indicated the role of different parties on ICP; healthcare personnel had the leading role via correct practicing, hand washing and, educating patients while the health system’s roles including surveillance, infrastructure and improving the working condition and patients’ roles including awareness, obedience, and, taking responsibility were also identified. Data suggest that family members and COVID pandemic can also affect the ICP./ Conclusions: We conclude that adherence of HCWs to ICP can significantly affect the HAI’s prevention; nevertheless, their practice is affected by other responsible parties such as the health system, and any further preventive decision-making should consider targeting HCWs’ barriers to safe practice. | eng |