Knowledge of and Adherence to Hygiene Guidelines among Medical Students in Austria

Table 1

Distributed questionnaire. The survey was paper based and only single choice was accepted.

Question	Answer possibilities
How often do you disinfect your hands during a day in the clinical setting?	After every patient contact
	Before and after every patient contact
	Two-three times/day
	Never
How often do you disinfect the membrane of your stethoscope?	After every patient contact
	Before and after every patient contact
	Two-three times/day
	Never
How often do you disinfect your hands before or after blood sample collection?	After every patient contact
	Before and after every patient contact
	I wear gloves
	Never
How often do you wear gloves for blood sample collection?	Always
	Most of the time
	Never
How often do you perform “recapping” of needles?	Always
	Most of the time
	Never
How often do you change your white coat?	Regularly, at least every 1-2 weeks
	Sometimes, about every 1-2 months
	Only if the white coat is dirty
	I do not remember
How often do you wear your white coat during lunch break in the canteen?	Always
	Most of the time
	Never
Do you leave the operation wing with operation theater clothing?	Yes, always
	Sometimes
	Only if I go back in foreseeable time
	No, never
Assess your knowledge regarding hygiene guidelines in the OT (school marks)	Excellent
	Good
	Satisfactory
	Sufficient
	Not sufficient
How well do you know the hygiene guidelines at your university hospital?	Excellent
	Good
	Satisfactory
	Sufficient
	Not sufficient
Have you ever read and understood the hygiene guidelines?	Yes
	No
	I would like but I do not know where to find them
If you know the hygiene guidelines, would you have difficulties to state at least three guidelines?	Yes
	No
Would you favor the implementation of an obligatory operation theater license?	Yes
	No
	This would not solve the fundamental problem since adherence to hygiene guidelines decreases over time
Have you ever had a professional introduction to hygiene guidelines?	Yes, in the framework of a lecture or seminar
	Yes, by a doctor in the clinical setting
	Yes, in the framework of a clinical internship
	No
Do you think that the amount of disinfectant dispensers provided in the hospital is sufficient?	Yes
	No
	I always have a pocket dispenser with me
Do you wear bracelets, rings, or wristwatches in the hospital?	Yes, always
	Most of the time
	No, never
Do you sit on the hospital bed during patient contact?	Yes, always
	Rather often
	Sometimes
	Rather seldom
	No, never
Do you shake hands with the patient when greeting each other?	Yes, always
	Rather often
	Sometimes
	Rather seldom
	No, never
Do you think that there are sufficient numbers of white coats provided (one at a time) for students at your hospital?	Yes
	2-3 would be better
	At own disposal would be better
Have you ever had patient contact even if you were seriously ill, since you otherwise would not have fulfilled the requirements to take part in an exam?	Yes, repeatedly
	1-2 times during my medical studies so far
	No, never