MOKOGWU NDUBUISI

Background: Standard precautions are essential infection prevention and control measures used to reduce healthcare associated infections and occupational exposure among healthcare workers. Inadequate compliance with standard precautions remains a major public health concern in many healthcare facilities, particularly in resource‑limited settings. Aim: This study assessed and compared adherence to standard precautions among healthcare workers in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and identified determinants influencing compliance. Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted among 370 healthcare workers (doctors and nurses) in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using a structured self‑administered questionnaire. Knowledge and Adherence was assessed using standardized questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27. Descriptive statistics, chi‑square tests and logistic regression analysis were used for analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 35.10 +/- 8.03 for doctors - who constituted 53.8% of the total population and 36.18 +/- 11.01 for nurses. The majority of respondents demonstrated good knowledge of standard precaution however doctors displayed a higher level of knowledge compared to nurses and the difference was statistically significant (48.6% and 37.6% respectively, p=0.01 ). Predictors of good knowledge were the male gender and doctors with males being less likely to have good knowledge (Odds Ratio= 0.210, C.I: 0.055 -0.799, p=0.022) and doctors being 2 times more likely to have good knowledge (Odds Ratio= 9.030, C.I: 2.342- 34.813, p=0.001). Hand hygiene and sharps disposal practices xvi recorded higher compliance levels compared with the use of protective eye goggles and face shields. Significantly more nurses 91(25.3%) always practiced hand hygiene before touching a patient compared to doctors 69(19.2%). The difference was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Respondents who previously attended infection prevention training demonstrated better compliance compared with those without training. There were no statistically significant predictors of compliance for doctors and nurses. Conclusion: Although healthcare workers demonstrated moderate to good knowledge and compliance with standard precautions, important gaps still exist. Continuous infection prevention training, improved institutional support and adequate provision of personal protective equipment are recommended to improve adherence to standard precautions among healthcare workers in UBTH

Team-based care is an approach to healthcare delivery that aims to improve patient safety, streamline clinical workflows, and reduce clinical errors. While collaborative models are known to improve patient outcomes, their implementation in everyday practice can be limited by varied levels of awareness, traditional hospital hierarchies, and communication xvi gaps among healthcare professionals. This study assessed the knowledge and perception of team- based care among clinical staff in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 418 clinical staff at UBTH, selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of team-based care principles, overall perception of interprofessional collaboration, and factors influencing its practical implementation. Knowledge and perception scores were categorized as good (≥50%) or poor (<50%). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used as appropriate. Results: The mean age of respondents was 36.84 ± 8.65 years, with the largest proportion (45.1%) in the 30–39 years age group. Most respondents (58.2%) were nurses, while 31.4% comprised doctors, pharmacists, and other clinical professionals. Overall, 88.5% of respondents had previously heard of team-based care, with clinical meetings and departmental seminars being the most common sources of information (54.0%). A total of 72.0% had good knowledge of team-based care frameworks, and 84.0% held a positive perception toward its practice. Professional cadre was significantly associated with knowledge (\chi^2 = 26.14, p < 0.001), and years of clinical work experience was also significantly associated with knowledge (\chi^2 = 8.45, p = 0.012). Conclusion: Although overall baseline knowledge of team-based care was moderate, with 72.0% of respondents demonstrating good knowledge, the majority of clinical staff held a positive perception toward interprofessional collaboration (84%). These findings suggest that xvii while readiness to adopt collaborative care is high among staff, practical execution faces systemic institutional challenges. Routine interprofessional training workshops, formalized hospital guidelines, and the early introduction of team-based modules in undergraduate medical and health curricula are recommended to improve collaborative healthcare delivery at UBTH. Keywords: Team-based care; knowledge; perception; clinical staff; interprofessional collaboration; UBTH; Nigeria.