KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS NEEDLE STICK INJURY AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Accidental needle stick injuries (NSI) are an occupational hazard for health care workers which prone them to transmission of various blood borne infections.The aimof our study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of health care workers regarding needlestickinjuries in our hospital.
METHODS:This descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted in Medical Teaching Institution, Lady Reading HospitalPeshawar and 285 health care workers participated in the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17.
RESULTS:In this study 285 HCWsparticipated. 64.9% (n=185) of the participants had exposure to NSI.A common practice after the needle injury was to press and allow the site to bleed (67.6%), whereas 62.7% of the participants preferred to wash the injured site with tap water and soap and 52.4% with antiseptic solution. Only one third of the participants had received sharp related training. Half of the (54.11%) doctors had sufficient knowledge about the post exposure prophylaxis of the hepatitis B, C and HIV.61.1% of the workers used tray to keep syringes, and only 49.1% wore gloves while working, 22.5% bend/broke needles by hand, 14.4% experienced a danger practice of moving with uncapped needles, 73% used sharp disposal container and needle destroyer was used in 49.4% of the cases.Approximately half (54.4%) of the HCWs were not vaccinated against hepatitis B.
CONCLUSION:Occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens via NSI was quite high in our study. Lack of awareness of these hazards, underreporting, and low knowledge about post exposure prophylaxis makes it imperative to address this issue and train the HCWs by organizing regular training sessions for them.
KEY WORDS:: Needlestick Injury (Nsi), Health Care Worker (Hcw),Tertiary Care Hospital.