Social representations of needlestick injuries

Abstract

Objectives: understand the Social Representations about needlestick injuries elaborated byNursing Technicians and analyze how these representations influence their conducts. Method: the data, obtained by interviews, were processed using ALCESTE software and their analysis was based on Serge Moscovici's Social Representations Theory. Results: it was evidenced that, after the accident, these professionals take care of the affected area. Then, they report the accident, motivated by the fear of catching HIV and hepatitis. The different feelings experienced are due to this fear and the way they were forwarded by the institution, reflecting in the cause they attribute to their accident. Conclusions: it was verified that knowledge about the accident as a whole is very incipient in this professional group, demanding continuing education and greater emphasis on this subject in professional training. It is expected that this study draws public authorities and health institutions' attention to the problem and that it modifies Nursing Technicians' Social Representations about percutaneous exposure. Representaciones Sociales de los accidentes con materiales cortopunzantesObjetivos: Comprender las Representaciones Sociales de los accidentes con materiales corto-punzantes, elaboradas por Técnicos de Enfermería, así como analizar de que modo esas representaciones influencian las conductas de eses profesionales. Método: Los datos, logrados por medio de entrevistas, fueron procesados por el software ALCESTE y el análisis de los mismos fue basado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales de Serge Moscovici.Resultados: se evidenció que, después de accidentarse, los Técnicos de Enfermería cuidan del área afectada. Enseguida, notifican el accidente, motivados por el miedo de que contraigan HIV y hepatitis. Los diversos sentimientos vividos son consecuentes de ese miedo y de la manera como fueron encaminados por la institución, reflejando en la causa que ellos atribuyen a su accidente. Conclusiones: se constató que hay un conocimiento bastante incipiente por parte de esa clase profesional sobre el accidente como un todo, habiendo necesidad de una educación continuada y mayor énfasis en cuanto a ese asunto durante la formación profesional. Se espera que ese estudio llame la atención de los órganos gubernamentales e instituciones de salud sobre el problema y modifique las Representaciones Sociales de la exposición percutánea de los Técnicos de Enfermería.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder after exposure to biological material

“…A study carried out in a private hospital in the state of Piauí revealed that after occupational exposure with sharps, workers experienced feelings of worry, fear of contracting HIV, hepatitis B or C, and guilt due to the occurrence of the accident. 20 Regarding the number of exposures in the previous year, the majority of these individuals reported one occupational accident with biological material in the period, similar to the individuals with high IES-R scores, however, the variable number of exposures/ year was not compared regarding the IES-R scores. The results of one study 15 showed that professionals with greater numbers of previous experiences of disasters had higher chances of intrusive memories.…”