Knowledge and perceived self-efficacy of nursing interns in the application of biosecurity measures

Sandra M. Sotomayor-Sánchez, Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
Martha Bernal-Becerril, Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
Virginia Reyes-Audiffred, Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
Gandhy Ponce-Gómez, Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México

Introduction: Social Service represents an opportunity to strengthen and consolidate the intern’s academic training, but also represents a space of biological, chemical, ergonomic, and psychosocial risk. The safety of the intern during the development of their internship is a matter of great interest for both the training institution and the host health institutions. Addressing this risk implies the commitment of the training institution to guarantee the intern solid theoretical and practical knowledge of biosafety technologies, to avoid risks to their health and life and thus also provide safe, professional, and quality care that meets the health and life demands of the individual, family, and community. Objective: To analyze the relationship between knowledge and perception of self-efficacy of biosecurity measures of the nursing intern during their internship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Correlational and cross-sectional study, intentional non-probabilistic sample of 165 nursing interns, data collection was carried out through the application of designed and validated instruments on knowledge and self-efficacy of biosecurity measures. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics, using the SPSS v.27 statistical package. The study adhered to ethical principles and informed consent was obtained. Results: There is a positive correlation of very low intensity between the score achieved in the “knowledge” section of the instrument and the “perceived self-efficacy” section, which is not statistically significant (r: 0.045; p = 0.566). Conclusions: Perceived self-efficacy is not related to the knowledge of nursing interns, although this is not the expected result. It is important to consider that perceived self-efficacy is not necessarily unidirectionally related to their level of knowledge, since some nursing interns may have a high level of knowledge but low self-efficacy, while others may have high self-efficacy despite having limited knowledge.

Keywords: Knowledge. Self efficacy. Biosecurity. Nursing intern.