Needlestick and sharps injuries among nurses at Atatürk university research hospital and their practices after injury

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 128 - 133, 04.01.2019

Elif Okşan Çalıkoğlu , Banu Bedir , Hilal Betül Akçay , Ali Gümüş

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.404827

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Objectives: Exposure to
needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI) is among the major occupational risks of
health workers. Yearly 385,000 NSI are reported by health workers. In this
study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of NSI among nurses at Atatürk
University Research Hospital together with the elaboration of the utilization
of effective preventive measures used for infection control as well as the
affecting factors.

Methods: All 562 nurses working at Atatürk University Research
Hospital during September-November 2016 were invited to fill a questionnaire
with 27 items. Questions were asked about the sociodemographic
characteristics,having experienced NSI, usage of protective equipment, and
hepatitis B vaccination status. A total of 555 (98.7%) nurses volunteered to
participate. Verbal consent was taken from the participants.

Results: Of the participants, 425 (76.6%) were females, and 130 (23.4%) were males.
Their mean age was 27.5 ± 7.4 years. 52.6% (n = 293) of the participants were
in the surgical clinics while 47.4% (n = 262) were in the medical clinics. Of
the participants, 21.6% (n = 120) stated that they experienced a needlestick or
sharps injury within the last one year. Of those injuries, 16.7% (n = 20)
happened while removing the needle tip from the syringe, 29.2% (n = 35) while
trying to reattach the needle cap, 16.7% (n = 20) while filling the syringe,
and 12.5% (n = 15) while drawing blood from the patient.

Conclusion: Health
workers should be trained on injuries and all other occupational risks with
cutting and puncturing tools, and they should be instructed on the use of
protective equipment. 

Keywords

needlestick injuries, sharps injuries, occupational health, nurses

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