Factors associated with needlestick and sharp injuries among hospital nurses: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Abstract

Background The current status of needlestick or sharp injuries of hospital nurses and factors associated with the injuries have not been systematically examined with representative registered nurse samples in South Korea. Objective To examine the incidence to needlestick or sharp injuries and identify the factors associated with such injuries among hospital nurses in South Korea. Design, settings and participants A cross-sectional survey of hospital nurses in South Korea. Data were collected from 3079 registered nurses in 60 acute hospitals in South Korea by a stratified random sampling method based on the region and number of beds. Methods The dependent variable was the occurrence of needlestick or sharp injuries in the last year, and the independent variables were protective equipment, nurse characteristics, and hospital characteristics. This study employed logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equation clustering by hospital to identify the factors associated with needlestick or sharp injuries. Results The majority (70.4%) of the hospital nurses had experienced needlestick or sharp injuries in the previous year. The non-use of safety containers for disposal of sharps and needles, less working experience as a registered nurse, poor work environments in regards to staffing and resource adequacy, and high emotional exhaustion significantly increased risk for needlestick or sharp injuries. Working in perioperative units also significantly increased the risk for such injuries but working in intensive care units, psychiatry, and obstetrics wards showed a significantly lower risk than medical–surgical wards. Conclusions The occurrence of needlestick or sharp injuries of registered nurses was associated with organizational characteristics as well as protective equipment and nurse characteristics. Hospitals can prevent or reduce such injuries by establishing better work environments in terms of staffing and resource adequacy, minimizing emotional exhaustion, and retaining more experienced nurses. All hospitals should make safety-engineered equipment available to registered nurses. Hospitals as well as specific units showing higher risk for needlestick and sharp injuries should implement organizational strategies to prevent such injuries. It is also necessary to establish a monitoring system of needlestick and sharp injuries at a hospital level and a reporting system at the national level in South Korea.

Occupational Exposure to Blood and Other Body Fluids Among Healthcare Workers in Three Teaching Hospitals, Southeast Iran

“…Some factors that have been found to be independently associated with exposure to BBFs and NSIs include male gender, an age below 40 years (7), the recapping of needles (8), work experience of less than two years (9), and working at a surgical ward (10). Inadequate human and other resources and high emotional exhaustion significantly increase the risk of occupational exposure to BBFs (11). The presence of a health office for HCWs at a hospital, work at a university hospital, and previous training on infection control measures are associated with lower levels of NSIs and/or sharp injuries (7,10).…”

A study to assess the awareness of needle prick injuries among the first year diploma nursing students at a selected medical centre, malaysia

“…[15] By reducing the occurrence of needle prick injuries, patients will also receive better nursing care. Figure 1 shows the response to the question by the participants on 'Most needle prick injuries occur due to improper usage of personal protection equipment (PPE) and Reporting after needle prick injury is not useful'.…”

“…[15] By reducing the occurrence of needle prick injuries, patients will also receive better nursing care. …”

“…Each correct answer was given 1 point and each wrong answer and unsure responses were given 0 points. The findings were categorized as Good knowledge (16-20), Moderate knowledge (11)(12)(13)(14)(15) and Poor knowledge (below 10). The pilot study was conducted to determine the reliability of the questionnaire.…”

Analisis Risiko Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja (K3) pada Perawat

“…Bahaya lain yang teridentifikasi adalah posisi kerja yang tidak normal sehingga perawat harus membungkuk, postur tubuh yang janggal ini karena sarana kerja yang tidak ergonomis. Hasil penelitian ini sejalan dengan penelitian Cho et al (2013) yang menyimpulkan mayoritas perawat (70,4%) di rumah sakit di Korea Selatan mengalami luka akibat tertusuk jarum suntik atau jarum infus. Kejadian ini berhubungan dengan faktor karekteristik perawat dan karakteristik organisasi rumah sakit.…”