Table 2.
Comparison of student nurse and public perception of appropriate use of NSCG (separated into those where gloves are and are not indicated).
| Task | Student nurses would routinely wear gloves (n = 67) |
Public would prefer HCW to wear gloves (n = 142) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | |
| Procedures where gloves ARE indicated | ||||
| Removing urine catheter | 67 | 100.0 | – | – |
| Collecting a bedpan/urinal | 66 | 98.5 | – | – |
| Changing an incontinence pad | 66 | 98.5 | – | – |
| Dressing a wound | 66 | 98.5 | 135 | 95.1 |
| Decontaminating a commode | 66 | 98.5 | – | – |
| Removing an IV cannula | 65 | 97.0 | – | – |
| Emptying urinary catheter | 65 | 97.0 | – | – |
| Checking blood glucose | 62 | 92.5 | – | – |
| Suctioning | 60 | 89.5 | – | – |
| Changing a baby’s nappy | 41 | 61.2 | – | – |
| Procedures where gloves ARE NOT indicated | ||||
| Washing a patients’ genital areas | 64 | 95.5 | 133 | 93.7 |
| Washing/ bathing/showering patient | 59 | 88.1 | 83 | 58.5 |
| Attaching/detaching IV line | 55 | 82.1 | – | – |
| Taking MRSA swabs | 53 | 79.1 | – | – |
| Giving IM/SC injection | 51 | 76.1 | 93 | 65.5 |
| Handling used (not soiled) bed linen | 45 | 67.0 | 7 | 4.9 |
| Assisting patient onto toilet/commode | 44 | 65.7 | 9 | 6.3 |
| Assisting patient transfer from commode to bed/chair | 43 | 64.2 | 101 | 71.1 |
| Cleaning/tidying patient bed space | 27 | 40.1 | 37 | 26.1 |
| Dressing/undressing a patient | 27 | 40.0 | 12 | 8.5 |
| Washing a baby | 17 | 25.4 | – | – |
| Helping patient transfer from bed to chair | 10 | 14.9 | – | – |
| Feeding a patient | 6 | 8.9 | 12 | 8.5 |
| Handling clean bed linen | 4 | 6.0 | – | – |
| Administering oral medication | 4 | 6.0 | 15 | 10.6 |
| Taking blood pressure | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 2.8 |