Taylor, FE;
Guo, H;
Patel, T;
Burns, F;
(2026)
A mixed methods systematic review on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices of infection prevention and control in the UK.
Journal of Hospital Infection
, 167
pp. 124-136.
10.1016/j.jhin.2025.10.011.
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Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to cause healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in the UK. It is important to understand if infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines are being followed to prevent future outbreaks and improve preparedness for the emergence of infectious disease. This mixed-methods systematic review aimed to explore the COVID-19 IPC knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCWs) within the UK. Database searches carried out during April 2023 and July 2024 revealed 24 eligible papers (12 quantitative, eight qualitative, four mixed methods). A convergent integrated approach was used during qualitative synthesis. Doctors were most represented, followed by nurses then pharmacists. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was the most reported IPC measure. In terms of knowledge, articles reported moderate-to-poor knowledge of correct aerosol-generating procedures (range 33–35%), and donning and doffing procedures (range 3–82%). Intensive care workers and doctors tended to have better knowledge compared with other settings or HCWs. Regarding attitudes, PPE and gatekeeping visitation caused strain, and some HCWs felt that guidance lacked relevance to their setting. Finally, regarding practices, this review found that HCWs would risk assess what PPE to wear. An enhanced level of PPE than advised was worn when patients were symptomatic. However, HCWs would remove PPE when they felt it reduced effective communication or patient safety was at risk. Clearer communication of the evidence behind IPC guidance and tailored guidance for each setting may improve HCWs' KAP and thus reduce HCAIs. Future research should determine KAP of other IPC apart from PPE. Non-medical HCWs should also be included as they constitute a significant proportion of patient-facing staff.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | A mixed methods systematic review on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices of infection prevention and control in the UK |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhin.2025.10.011 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.10.011 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health, Infectious Diseases, Attitude, Control, COVID-19, Healthcare workers, Infection, Knowledge, Practice, Prevention, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10219352 |
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