Attitudes, Social Norms, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Intention Toward Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Screening Among Health Care Workers.

BACKGROUND: Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a worldwide public health priority. Screening patients to detect colonization is considered an essential pillar of any MRSA control program.

PURPOSE: To (a) assess health care workers' (HCWs) attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control toward MRSA screening, and intention to perform the screening; (b) examine the predictors of HCWs intentions to perform screening; (c) identify HCWs' perception of barriers to and benefits of screening; and (d) identify HCWs' information sources about screening.

METHODS: Data obtained from 870 HCWs using the MRSA Screening Survey (MRSASS) were analyzed. The MRSASS was divided into three parts. Part 1 assessed sociodemographic variables. Part 2 contained the following six sections: (a) attitudes and perceived risk of MRSA screening, (b) perceived social norms of screening, (c) perceived behavioral control factors, (d) intention, (e) barriers to screening, and (f) benefit of screening. Part 3 assessed HCWs' source of information about MRSA screening.

RESULTS: HCWs had positive attitudes toward the intention to screen for MRSA. Many HCWs felt that they had little influence on policy makers to conduct MRSA screening. The most reported barriers for MRSA screening were a lack of isolation facilities and increased workload. Only 5.2% (n = 45) of respondents indicated that they had been given MRSA screening training.

CONCLUSION: Attitude was the only predictor for the intention to screen for MRSA. HCWs believed that the barriers to MRSA screening were inadequate facilities, primarily the lack of isolation facilities, and increased workload.