Health care workers' action strategies in situations that involve a risk of blood exposure

Abstract

Previous research shows that health care workers (HCWs) often act in a risky way in blood-exposure situations, and thereby run the risk of becoming infected by blood-borne pathogens. A qualitative study was conducted in order to describe factors that influence HCWs' actions in such situations. Nurses and nursing assistants were interviewed. The analysis shows that HCWs perceive that there is a conflict among different demands. These demands are protecting the patient's privacy, protecting themselves from being infected and respecting the norms of the department. The process of managing this conflict is labelled 'balancing', which most often results in the choice of a diagnosis-related strategy.

Blood exposure: factors promoting health care workers’ compliance with guidelines in connection with risk

“…We also referred to these forces as deactivators. These have been more thoroughly discussed in a previous article (Lymer et al. , 2003).…”

“…In a previous article (Lymer et al. , 2003), we argued that a qualitative approach is needed to complement the existing research.…”

“…To facilitate the latter form of reading a conceptual modification should be noticed. In order to stress the focus on rises and falls in local safety cultures and individual behaviour, we will in the present article use the terms ‘deactivators’ and ‘reactivators’, instead of the somewhat vague terms ‘socio‐cultural’ and ‘situation‐specific factors’ used in Lymer et al. (2003).…”

Circumstances Surrounding Occupational Blood Exposure Events in the National Study to Prevent Blood Exposure in Paramedics

“…Studies of hospital health care workers have found that provision of other resources (such as training), structural factors (such as work loads), and workers' perceptions of management's commitment to worker safety have a strong effect on compliance with Universal Precautions, use of safety devices, and risk of blood exposure [17][18][19][20] . Intervention strategies for paramedics should take into account the complex relationships of organizational, structural, and psychosocial factors that affect blood exposure 15,21) .…”

Promoção da saúde do trabalhador de enfermagem: intervenção para o uso de luvas na punção venosa

“…Williams et al (1994) identificaram que 57% dos trabalhadores que indicaram uma baixa adesão às precauções-padrão referiram esta atitude ao fato do paciente não ter aparência de ser um portador de vírus passível de transmissão ocupacional. Em uma investigação qualitativa sobre o uso de luvas na punção venosa, Zapparoli (2005) observou que em 35% dos depoimentos foi referido o uso de luvas apenas quando era conhecido que o diagnóstico do paciente representava risco de contaminação Todo trabalhador de saúde deve partir do pressuposto de que todos os pacientes podem estar infectados por patógenos passíveis de transmissão de infecções e outras patologias e adotar as precauções-padrão (LYMER, RICHT, ISAKSSON, 2003).…”