Knowledge, source of information, and perception of Portuguese medical students and junior doctors of infection control precautions

Abstract

Medical education should include infection control precautions (ICPs). Portuguese medical students showed reasonable knowledge in ICPs; however, contact isolation and glove and mask use should be reinforced. Only 25% referred to the curriculum as the most important information source. There was a positive association between academic year (P = .032), previous training in ICPs (P = .016), and knowledge. Main strategies proposed to acquire competences in ICPs were bedside teaching (26.9%) and curriculum and bedside teaching (20.2%).