Abstract: Objective To analyze the current status of healthcare workers' knowledge and attitudes regarding hospital-acquired infection prevention and control in psychiatric hospitals and explore its influencing factors, providing a reference for improving the level of infection prevention and control in psychiatric hospitals. Methods A simple sampling method was used. Healthcare workers from three psychiatric hospitals in Wuhu, Anhui Province were enrolled. A questionnaire survey on infection prevention and control and cognitive level assessment were conducted. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to explore the influencing factors of healthcare workers' knowledge and attitudes in infection prevention and control. Results The survey results showed that regarding hospital-acquired infection prevention and control, the psychiatric medical staff had a high level of mastery of the basic knowledge, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, and personal protection. However, the correct response rates for multi-drug-resistant bacteria prevention and control only ranged from 60% to 80%. The average score of 514 psychiatric healthcare workers in infection prevention and control cognition was (8.71±1.28), indicating a moderate level. Among them, 157 healthcare workers answered all questions correctly, with a complete correct response rate of 30.54%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that years of psychiatric work experience (β′=0.074), frequency of training and education (β′=0.922), highest educational level (β′=0.078), and department leaders' emphasis on infection prevention and control (β′=0.076) were independent influencing factors of healthcare workers' cognitive level in hospital infection prevention and control (P<0.05). Conclusions The knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers in psychiatric hospital regarding infection prevention and control still needs improvement. Years of psychiatric work experience, frequency of training and education, highest educational level, and department leaders' emphasis on infection prevention and control are independent influencing factors of healthcare workers' cognitive level in this area.

Key words: Mental Health, Healthcare workers, Hospital-acquired infection, Cognition, Influencing factors