Reported needle stick injuries amongst health care workers in regional hospitals in the Free State Province

[摘要] English: The aim of this study was to investigate reported needle stick injuries amongst health care workers in regional hospitals in the Free State Province during the time period January 2006-September 2007. Needle stick injuries were defined as any injury caused by different types of needle devices, irrespective of the purpose of use. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and retrospective design was used. Data was collected through an interview using a questionnaire. The total population interviewed was 100 health care workers, namely doctors; professional nurses; staff nurses; auxiliary nurses and general assistants. Descriptive statistics, namely frequencies and percentages for categorical data, medians and percentiles for continuous data were calculated and compared by means of 95% confidence intervals for all categories of health care workers. The results of the study indicated that health care workers are at risk of sustaining needle stick injuries in the course of their work. The reported causes of the needle stick injuries were issues related to policy non-compliance, coupled with the use of unsafe needle devices. Ninety-nine health care workers (91.92%) were aware of the needle stick injury policy, eighty health care workers had in-service training (80%) on the prevention and eighty-three health care workers had in-service training on the management of needle stick injuries (83%). Fifty general assistants (50%) reported needle stick injuries due to wrong disposal of used needles. Injection needles (47%) accounted for the majority of needle stick injuries. A total of eighty health care workers (80%) reported two to six times occurrences of needle stick injuries. The peak time of needle stick injuries reported was between 07:00-10:00 for all health care workers, except for doctors. Less needle stick injuries were reported between 19:00-23:00 (8.42%:n=8/95) and between 23:00-06:00 (6.32%:n=6/95). Health care workers (85%:n=85) received post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within two hours post needle stick injuries. The findings indicated that there is a need to address the needle stick injury 'policy implementation and 'review to include updated exposure prevention strategies. Continuous training of health care workers and evaluation of such interventions should be done to reduce the exposure to needle stick injuries. Policy compliance needs Management support and a team approach.

[发布机构] University of the Free State