Prevalence of needle stick injuries among dental, nursing and midwifery students in Shiraz, Iran

Development and Validation of the Needlestick Injury Prevention (N-SIP) Module

INTRODUCTION

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) pose a significant occupational hazard to healthcare workers (HCWs), with potential risks of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The development of effective training modules is crucial to addressing NSI prevention and enhancing HCWs' knowledge and risk perception. This study aims to develop and validate the Needlestick Injury Prevention Module (N-SIP) using the ADDIE model (Florida State University, FL), which stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation, to improve NSI-related knowledge and risk perception among House Officers (HOs) in healthcare settings.

METHODS

The study utilized approaches comprising literature review, module development using the ADDIE model, content validation by experts, and face validation among HOs. The N-SIP module addressed various aspects of NSI prevention, including background information, bloodborne viral infections, infection prevention practices, and occupational safety. The evaluation involved content validation by expert panels and face validation by HOs.

RESULTS

The content validity of the N-SIP module was rigorously evaluated through expert review and validation by subject matter experts and HOs. The experts' feedback ensured the quality, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the module's instructional materials. Furthermore, face validity was assessed among HOs to ensure the module's clarity, appropriateness, and perceived effectiveness in addressing NSI prevention. The positive response from HOs indicated favorable perceptions of the module's content and instructional design, affirming its potential to effectively enhance perceptions related to NSI prevention among HCWs.

CONCLUSION

The development and evaluation of the N-SIP represent a significant advancement in addressing NSIs among HCWs. Through a structured approach informed by the ADDIE model, the N-SIP module offers a comprehensive and tailored learning experience aimed at enhancing NSI-related knowledge and risk perception among HOs. The study findings underscore the importance of effective training interventions in promoting a culture of safety and reducing occupational hazards in healthcare settings.

Incidence, knowledge, attitude and practice toward needle stick injury among nursing students in Saudi Arabia

Background

Needle stick injuries constitute the greatest threat to nursing students during clinical practice because of accidental exposure to body fluids and infected blood. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of needle stick injuries and (2) measure the level of knowledge, attitude and practice among nursing students about needle stick injuries.

Methods

Three hundred participants undergraduate nursing students at a private college in Saudi Arabia were included, of whom 281 participated, for an effective response rate of 82%.

Results

The participants showed good knowledge scores with a mean score of 6.4 (SD = 1.4), and results showed that students had positive attitudes (Mean = 27.1, SD = 4.12). Students reported a low level of needle stick practice (Mean = 14.1, SD = 2.0). The total prevalence of needle stick injuries in the sample was 14.1%. The majority, 65.1%, reported one incidence in the last year, while (24.4%) 15 students reported two incident of needle stick injuries. Recapping was the most prevalent (74.1%), followed by during injection (22.3%). Most students did not write a report (77.4%), and being worried and afraid were the main reasons for non-reports (91.2%). The results showed that female students and seniors scored higher level in all needle stick injuries domains (knowledge, attitude and practice) than male students and juniors. Students who had needle stick injuries more than three times last year reported a lower level of all needle stick injury domains than other groups (Mean = 1.5, SD =1.1; Mean = 19.5, SD =1.1; Mean = 9.5, SD =1.1, respectively).

Conclusion

Although the student's showed good knowledge and positive attitudes in NSI, the students reported a low level of needle stick practice. Raising awareness among nursing students and conducting continuing education related to sharp devices and safety and how to write an incident reporting is highly recommended.

Magnitude and associated factors of needle stick and sharps injuries among health care workers in Dessie City Hospitals, north east Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Work-related exposures to needle stick and sharps accidents are essential reason of infections with blood borne pathogens amongst health care employees and can cause extensive fitness consequences and psychological stress. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of needle stick and sharps injuries and associated factors among health care workers in Dessie town hospitals.

METHOD

This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 21-April 21/2015, amongst health care people in Dessie city hospitals.Data have been collected by a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. The study included 438 health care employees who had been selected through the use of a simple random sampling technique. The gathered data have been checked, coded and entered to EPI-info version 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS model 20 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses have been executed to identify elements related with the structured variable.

RESULTS

From 457 selected study participants, 438 (95.8%) responded to the questionnaire. The magnitude of needle stick and sharps injuries in the last 12 months was 124(28.3%), of which 92(74.2%) was reported by males and the rest 32(25.8%) by females. Being male [AOR: 4.25, 95%CI:(2.43,7.41)],had no safety instructions in the work area [AOR:2.27,95%CI: (1.29,3.97)],had no training on safety and health [AOR:4.92,95%CI:(2.75,8.79)],had ≤5 years work experience [AOR:9.0,95%CI:(4.88,16.60)],recapping of used needle [AOR: 2.63, 95%CI: (1.39, 4.99)] were the variables that significantly associated with needle stick and sharps injuries.

CONCLUSION

This study showed still a high magnitude of needle stick or sharps among healthcare workers. Therefore, training on work related safety and wellbeing, making safety instructions accessible and avoiding a recap of the needle after use are important to reduce the chance of such injuries among healthcare workers.

Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers: A retrospective six-year study

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the proportion of needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) among healthcare workers at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC), Amman, Jordan.

Methods

All NSSI reports referred from departments at KHMC to the Preventive Medicine Department between 2013-2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Proportion of NSSIs were calculated and stratified according to age, gender, job title, place and site of injury and the procedure/task during which the injury occurred.

Results

There were a total of 393 NSSIs. A significant association was found between the proportion of NSSIs and all tested variables (P <0.001). The reported proportion of NSSIs was highest among nurses (39.7%) followed by cleaners (36.3%), physicians (10.4%), other workers (7.4%) and lab technicians (5.9%) during the study's six-year period. Hospital wards were the most common locations (46.1%) where injuries took place. Injuries also occurred most frequently during medical waste collection (38.2%).

Conclusion

The proportion of NSSIs was highest among nurses and cleaners. Safety policies and training among high-risk groups should be reviewed to reduce the risk of NSSIs. Multicentre studies at a national level should be conducted to examine whether this study's findings reflect national trends.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus Infection Prevention Following Occupational Exposure among Staff at a Regional Referral Hospital in Western Kenya

Background:

Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) aides in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and HBV, respectively, from accidental or occupational exposure. We assessed compliance to guidelines for HIV and HBV prevention after occupational exposure among hospital staff at a referral Kenyan hospital.

Methods:

We reviewed PEP registers for hospital staff reporting an occupational injury at a referral hospital in Western Kenya between January 2011 and December 2012. Proportions were used to summarize number of participants receiving the recommended services, Kaplan–Meier curves were used to describe time to ART initiation, and Chi-square statistics was used to describe the association between participant characteristics and PEP completion rates. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Majority of documented hospital staff (n = 52) were health workers (63%) and students (27%) and had high HIV risk exposures (97%). All had timely PEP initiation with 50% completing PEP. Completion rates did not vary by gender (P = 0.78), exposure type (P = 1.0), or department of exposure (P = 0.75). Retesting for HIV and negativity rates at months 1.5, 3, and 6 were 96%, 25%, and 17% and 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. At the time of exposure, 17% (9) of staff were HBV vaccinated and HBV status of sources was unknown; no intervention was provided for HBV prevention.

Conclusions:

Low rates of completion and follow-up negate intended benefits of PEP. Efforts should be directed to enforce universal precaution practices and completion of PEP. Low rates of HBV testing and vaccination illustrate the need for support for the implementation of HBV prevention guidelines.

Knowledge, attitude, and performance of medical staff of teaching healthcare settings about hepatitis B and C in Isfahan, Iran

Background:

hospital personnel are at high risk of exposure, infection, and transmission of viral hepatitis. The present study aimed at investigating the knowledge, attitude, and performance of health service providers to provide them with the information required for their educational promotion on viral hepatitis.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 staff of the forenamed healthcare settings such as on nurses, midwives, licensed practical nurses, and lab officials in Isfahan, Iran, in 2012. A checklist including demographic data and questions associated with the knowledge (18 questions), attitude (4 questions), and performance (15 questions) on hepatitis B and C was completed by the participants.

Results:

A total of 388 participants completed the checklist. Participants’ knowledge on the ways of transmission, prevalence, vaccination, and prevention methods was moderate (total score = 58.56 ± 10.1 percent) and the attitude was generally positive. Proper vaccination was carried out by 81.4% of the participants. Accidental injury by a needle was reported in 47.7% of the participants, but only 37.6% of them reported it to higher authorities and of them only 13.7% received appropriate treatment. Only 44.3% and 11.6% of participants reported always using gloves and masks, respectively, and 58.8% of the staff covered the needle cap before transferring it to the safety box.

Conclusions:

Due to excessive contact with patients, a paramedic-educated society is expected to have an optimal level of knowledge, attitude, and performance related to viral hepatitis. Our results from the checklists showed that medical personnel are not appropriately aware of viral hepatitis and their performance, too, is not satisfactory. Further continuous training is required and there needs to be more emphasis on actions regarding behaviors with high risk of infection transmission.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of dentists towards prophylaxis after exposure to blood and body fluids

BACKGROUND

Post-exposure prophylaxis plays an important role in prevention of bloodborne diseases after occupational exposures.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of dentists towards post-exposure prophylaxis.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 140 dentists in Shiraz were selected through a systematic randomized sampling. They filled out a self-made questionnaire including 30 knowledge, 4 attitude and 10 practice questions. Mean of knowledge and percentage of various items of attitude and practice were reported.

RESULTS

The mean±SD knowledge score of dentists was 18.5±6.2. Knowledge had a significant relationship with the level of education (p<0.001), attending infection control seminars (p<0.001), and working in public clinics (p<0.001). A total of 63 (43%) dentists believed that immediate washing of the exposed area has no effect on the prevention of hepatitis and AIDS. Of the studied dentists, 13%, 11%, and 34% believed that prophylaxis after exposure to patients' blood had no effect on prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections, respectively. Only 170 (53%) exposed dentists immediately washed the exposed area and only 43 (13.4%) of them evaluated the source patient for risk factors of hepatitis and AIDS.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge, attitude and practice of dentists working in Shiraz towards postexposure prophylaxis are not desirable. Interventions to raise their awareness are therefore warranted.