Factors Associated and Response to Needle Stick Injuries among Nursing Officers in District General Hospitals of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction: This study was carried out to find out the existing prevalence rates of the Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) among nursing officers in Sri Lankan health delivery system and to identify the factors associated with NSIs including the level of knowledge, attitude and practice on prevention.Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in three District General Hospitals. Five routine working units identified from each hospital. Proportional allocations were made with a final step of simple random sampling to select the sample. Self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results:Response rate was 95% and the prevalence of NSIs was 43%. IV cannulation was the most risky procedure (51%). Re-capping was seen in 24% of the exposed group. Medical wards accounted for 78% of the NSIs. There was a significant difference in NSIs seen in maturity in age (p=0.015) and increase working experience (p=0.044) but no difference was found with increased work load (no. of patients seen per day, p=0.765, increase number of working hours per week, p=0.204) and participation in in-service training programs (p=0.592). Pre exposure Hepatitis B immunization was seen in only 64%. A significant 49% did not report the injury and the main reason was assumed less risk (46%). Conclusion:Prevalence of NSIs was still high and ignorance and neglect are the main causes. Health education and in-service training should be mainly directed at inculcating knowledge into practice and changing attitudes towards safe practices. Hepatitis B immunization should be provided as early as possible.

Magnitude and Determinants of Needlestick and Sharp Injuries among Nurses Working in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“…The prevalence in this study is lower than the figure from earlier studies in Southwest Ethiopia (58.8%) [ 44 ]; Sri Lanka (43%) [ 22 ]; Thailand Regional Hospital (55.5%) [ 16 ]; Iran Shiraz University Hospital (54%) [ 20 ]; Nigeria (55.8%) [ 57 ]; Dessie, Ethiopia (43%) [ 66 ]; Saudi Arabia (50.9%) [ 67 ]; Egypt (62.3%, 67.9%) [ 68 ]; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (61.1%) [ 69 ]; Jimma, Ethiopia (44.12) [ 70 ]; Hawassa, Ethiopia (46%) [ 47 ]; Pakistan (66%) [ 71 ]; and Jordan (67.6%) [ 21 ]. However, this result is much lower when compared with a study done in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (66.6%) [ 37 ]; South Korea (74.4%) [ 14 ]; Pakistan (67%) [ 15 ]; and Nepal (74%) [ 18 ].…”

Effectiveness of safety cannula in reducing needle stick injuries

“…This was also shown by a similar study showing 45.1% of NSI incidence in medical wards and 13.3% incidence in surgical wards. 3 This study simultaneously evaluated the difference in NSI incidence rates for the safety cannulae and conventional cannulae over the same study period in the same hospital, while the majority of previous studies done internationally compared data received from different locations and different periods.…”

“…2 A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 2014 found a 43% prevalence of a history of needle stick injuries in healthcare workers in three District General hospitals in Sri Lanka. 3 The same study showed intravenous cannulation as the most hazardous procedure, as 51% of NSIs occured during cannulation.…”

“…The estimated prevalence of the main blood borne viruses in Sri Lanka are reported as 0.29-2.5% for hepatitis B virus (HBV), 0.56-0.97% for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 0.56-0.97% for HIV. 3 Following a percutaneous injury, the risk of transmission is 35%, 3-10%, 0.2-0.5% for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus infection and HIV infection respectively. 1 According to a WHO report, needle stick injuries account for 40% each of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections and 4.4% of HIV infections acquired by health care workers.…”

“…Minimising invasive procedures, education and training on prevention of NSIs, vaccination against preventable disease, usage of safety devices, and timely introduction of post-exposure prophylaxis to susceptible individuals are the key approaches identified in various studies. 3 Safety devices like safety peripheral intravascular cannulae, intravenous cannulae having blunt needles and needle-free intravenous access systems are designed with built-in safety controls and manufactures claim they have the potential to prevent needle stick injuries. The efficacy of safety devices has been evaluated by several published studies.…”