Comparison of the Knowledge and Performance of Surgical Technicians and Technologists Regarding the Observance of the Aseptic Technique

Background & Aims: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common postoperative complication. The observance of the aseptic technique is an effective measure to prevent SSI. The knowledge and performance of surgical technicians and technologists play a pivotal role in the proper implementation of this technique. The present study aimed to compare the knowledge and performance of surgical technicians and technologists regarding the observance of the aseptic technique. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted during 2017-2018 on 235 surgical technicians and technologists in eight teaching hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire for the measurement of knowledge, which was completed by the participants. In addition, a researcher-made checklist was completed by the researcher after observing the performance of the participants in three surgical procedures. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22.0 using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The mean score of the knowledge of surgical technicians and technologists was favorable, while their mean score of performance was average. The mean score of knowledge (P=0.047) and performance (P=0.01) was significantly higher in the surgical technologists compared to the surgical technicians. Moreover, a direct correlation was observed between the scores of knowledge and performance in both surgical technicians (P=0.027) and surgical technologists (P=0.032). Conclusion: According to the results, improving the knowledge of surgical technicians and technologists regarding the aseptic technique could enhance their performance in this regard. Therefore, the findings of this study could lay the groundwork for the proper supervision of the performance of healthcare providers in order to harmonize their knowledge and performance. Furthermore, considering the higher scores of knowledge in surgical technologists compared to the technicians, it is advisable that the latter be encouraged to continue their education. The implementation of effective training programs should also be considered in order to improve the performance of operating room personnel.