Needlestick injury surveillance and underreporting in Japan

A consensus for occupational health management of healthcare workers infected with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and / or hepatitis C virus

Occupational health management plays an important role in the prevention of provider-to-patient transmission in healthcare workers infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Therefore, the Japan Society for Occupational Health's Research Group on Occupational Health for Health Care Workers has proposed a consensus for the management of healthcare workers infected with HIV, HBV, and/or HCV based on recent evidence for each concerned group. The consensus recommends that: (1) employers in medical institutions should establish a policy of respecting the human rights of healthcare workers, management strategies for occupational blood exposure, and occupational health consultation; (2) occupational health staff should appropriately assess the risk of provider-to-patient transmission of HIV, HBV, and/or HCV infection and rearrange their tasks if necessary. When conducting risk assessment, occupational health staff should obtain informed consent and then cooperate with the physician in charge as well as infection control experts in the workplace; (3) healthcare workers infected with HIV, HBV, and/or HCV should disclose their employment to their treating physician and consult with their doctor regarding the need for special considerations at work; and (4) supervisors and colleagues in medical institutions should correctly understand the risks of HIV, HBV, and HCV infection and should not engage in any behavior that leads to discrimination against colleagues infected with HIV, HBV, and/or HCV.

Examining the dimensions of hospital safety climate and psychosocial risk factors among Japanese nurses

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensions, reliability, and main loading factors associated with a Japanese safety climate and psychosocial risk factor scale.

DESIGN

The authors used a cross-sectional survey of nurses from a university teaching hospital in Japan during 2008 (N = 996). The survey tools were based on components previously identified in a variety of international studies, including the Hospital Safety Climate Scale (HSCS) originally developed by Gershon et al. in 2000.

RESULTS

Factor analysis of the Japanese HSCS demonstrated key themes in the areas of workplace-related issues, protective devices or mechanisms, and managerial dimensions (Cronbach's α = .887). Factor analysis of the psychosocial scale revealed key themes comprising individually related items and group dynamics (Cronbach's α = .882).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed high internal consistency in the Japanese-language safety climate and psychosocial risk factor scales. The authors also identified various factors and themes consistent with previous international research.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Transcultural research using standard psychosocial tools can reveal important and reliable findings if carefully translated and adapted for the host environment.