Nursing team knowledge in the use of latex gloves in the hospital context

Abstract

The use of gloves is unquestionable in the health care, although there is no consensus among professionals about the choice of sterilized or procedure gloves. The objective of this research was to evaluate the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding to the use of gloves considering different activities. This isa cross-sectional study, with exploratory and descriptive features, carried out in a hospital in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul interior. A questionnaire was applied through an interview, with multiple-choice questions about the use of gloves in different health care procedures. Study participants were nurses directly active in patients care. From the 74 interviewees, it was observed that the frequency of the gloves use in curatives represents a controversial thematic, in other words, it varied from 1, 3 % to 83, 7%. Another preoccupying result was the lack of compliance to the use of gloves while administering intramuscular (31.0%), intravenous (18.9%), and subcutaneous (40.5%) medication. In body hygiene and positioning patients, participants mentioned frequent gloves use. In general, knowledge about the indication of gloves in different activities still needs clarification about adequate use.