Background: Needle stick injuries (NSI) as an occupational hazard is a concern to employers and health professionals. The literature shows that NSI although a common incident, it is preventable through proper training and routine vaccinations of all hospital employees. Objectives: To determine the incidence of NSI among doctors and nurses in a teaching hospital and the contributing factors towards these injuries.
Design: A Cross-Sectional Study. Setting: King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain. Method: Two data collection approaches were employed in the study: a retrospective review of records and a survey instrument. Result: One hundred fifty questionnaires were distributed, 91 responded; 30 had NSI. Fifteen (50%) were nurses, and 15 (50%) were doctors. Only 16 (53%) of the NSI respondents attended an annual training program on infection prevention and control; 14 (47%) nurses and 2 (7%) doctors attended an annual training program on infection prevention and control. Thirteen (43%) nurses and 8 (27%) doctors reported that 'I should not recap a needle', P-value 0.030. Conclusion: NSI continues to be a problem for health and safety. Sharps tools management training should be mandatory for all staff, particularly to staff in high risk area.
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