Paramedics: Knowledge base and attitudes towards aids and hepatitis

Cydulka, Rita K.; Mathews, James; Born, Michael; Moy, Annie; Parker, Michele

doi:10.1016/0736-4679(91)90530-s

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Other potential risks for infection transmission during CPR can be HIV [9], staphylococcus aureus [10], and herpes simplex infections [11]. Objectively, there is a minimal risk that healthcare professional may become infected by HIV or hepatitis when performing mouth-to-mouth ventilation [12]. In our study physicians' and nurses' fears of being infected while performing mouth-to-mouth ventilation were significantly reduced after education/training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

The impact of CPR and AED training on healthcare professionals' self-perceived attitudes to performing resuscitation

Källestedt

Berglund

Herlitz

et al. 2012

Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med

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BackgroundHealthcare professionals have shown concern about performing mouth-to-mouth ventilation due to the risks to themselves with the procedure. However, little is known about healthcare professionals' fears and attitudes to start CPR and the impact of training.ObjectiveTo examine whether there were any changes in the attitudes among healthcare professionals to performing CPR from before to after training.MethodsHealthcare professionals from two Swedish hospitals were asked to answer a questionnaire before and after training. The questions were relating to physical and mental discomfort and attitudes to CPR. Statistical analysis used was generalized McNemar's test.ResultsOverall, there was significant improvement in 10 of 11 items, reflecting various aspects of attitudes to CPR.All groups of health care professionals (physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, and "others" = physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social welfare officers, psychologists, biomedical analysts) felt more secure in CPR knowledge after education. In other aspects, such as anxiety prior to a possible cardiac arrest, only nurses and assistant nurses improved.The concern about being infected, when performing mouth to mouth ventilation, was reduced with the most marked reduction in physicians (75%; P < 0.001).ConclusionIn this hospital-based setting, we found a positive outcome of education and training in CPR concerning healthcare professionals' attitudes to perform CPR. They felt more secure in their knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In some aspects of attitudes to resuscitation nurses and assistant nurses appeared to be the groups that were most markedly influenced. The concern of being infected by a disease was low.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

The impact of CPR and AED training on healthcare professionals' self-perceived attitudes to performing resuscitation

Källestedt

Berglund

Herlitz

et al. 2012

Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med

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“…The most common reason cited for lack of immunization was die cost of the vaccine and die lack of diirdparty insurance coverage for immunoprophylaxis. 5 Initiation of an HBV-immunization program required substantial initial investment. However, studies have documented that such vaccination programs prove to be costeffective even in populations with low risk of HBV exposure when a high frequency of potential exposures exists from frequent occupational contact with blood and body fluids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is in part, due to the large numbers of nursing personnel and attending physicians working in this emergency department who took part in the program, and to the less than ideal response of the EMS personnel towards prophylactic health care. 5 The duration of immunity after HBV vaccination is unknown, and the need for booster doses of vaccine is controversial. Current goals of vaccination against HBV are to prevent clinical disease, to prevent the development of chronic HBV infection, and to prevent the short-term viremia that may lead to transmission of HBV.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…49 This strategy avoids the monstrous task of detailed follow-up and record-keeping for all those vaccinated. Prehospital care personnel are a health-care population that grossly underestimate their risk of acquiring HBV infection, 5 are less than responsive to requests for ongoing follow-up for preventative health-care, and often are highly mobile, making follow-up difficult. Thus, after documentation of initial response to primary immunization, routine follow-up with antibody testing or periodic booster doses of vaccine is not recommended in favor of future post-exposure assessment and prophylaxis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seroconversion by EMS Personnel Vaccinated with HBV Recombinant DNA

Koenigsberg

Ward

Herman

et al. 1992

Prehosp. Disaster med.

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Objective:To evaluate the seroconversion rate of EMS personnel given the hepatitis B virus (HBV) recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine series.Design:Retrospective review of paramedics and firefighters consecutively completing the HBV recombinant DNA vaccine program.Setting:Urban, non-prof it, private, regional EMS Resource Hospital. The Chicago North EMS System is under contract with the Chicago Fire Department. This contract allows for the voluntary vaccination of EMS personnel with recombinant DNA-HBV vaccine and treatment and follow-up of paramedics and firefighters possibly exposed to HBV.Population:Initial 68 EMS personnel completing HBV recombinant DNA vaccine program (48 primary prophylaxis and 20 post-exposure prophylaxis).Intervention:HBV recombinant DNA vaccine series was administered voluntarily to Chicago EMS System paramedics and firefighters per manufacturers recommendations. Two weeks after completion of the vaccination series, blood samples for HBV antibody titres were drawn to determine reactivity and the need for further immunization.Results:Of the 68 vaccinated individuals, only two had negative titres (3%). These two individuals were given a fourth dose of vaccine with successful seroconversion.Conclusions:Prehospital care personnel are known highrisk, health-care workers for acquiring HBV and should be vaccinated prophylactically. There is a high seroconversion rate (97%) utilizing HBV recombinant DNA vaccine. However, post-vaccination antibody titres must be performed to identify those rare individuals that do not seroconvert.

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“…Inadequate knowledge and prevention of occupational exposure of HIV and AIDS among pre-hospital personnel was reported by Gellert et al [4]. They recommended the introduction of additional education and training programs for pre-hospital emergency staff.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paramedic knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and transmission in an Australian emergency medical system

Shaban

Creedy²,

Clark³

2003

Australasian Journal of Paramedicine

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Introduction Paramedics and other emergency health workers are exposed to infectious disease particularly when undertaking exposure-prone procedures as a component of their everyday practice. This study examined paramedic knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and transmission in the pre-hospital care environment. Methods A mail survey of paramedics from an Australian ambulance service (n=2274) was conducted. Results With a response rate of 55.3% (1258/2274), the study demonstrated that paramedic knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and modes of transmission was poor. Of the 25 infectious diseases included in the survey, only three aetiological agents were correctly identified by at least 80% of respondents. The most accurate responses for aetiology of individual infectious diseases were for HIV/AIDS (91.4%), influenza (87.4%), and hepatitis B (85.7%). Poorest results were observed for pertussis, infectious mononucleosis, leprosy, dengue fever, Japanese B encephalitis and vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE), all with less than half the sample providing a correct response. Modes of transmission of significant infectious diseases were also assessed. Most accurate responses were found for HIV/AIDS (85.8%), salmonella (81.9%) and influenza (80.1%). Poorest results were observed for infectious mononucleosis, diphtheria, shigella, Japanese B encephalitis, vancomycin resistant enterococcus, meningococcal meningitis, rubella and infectious mononucleosis, with less than a third of the sample providing a correct response. Conclusion Results suggest that knowledge of aetiology and transmission of infectious disease is generally poor amongst paramedics. A comprehensive in-service education infection control programs for paramedics with emphasis on infectious disease aetiology and transmission is recommended.

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Paramedics: Knowledge base and attitudes towards aids and hepatitis

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

The impact of CPR and AED training on healthcare professionals' self-perceived attitudes to performing resuscitation

The impact of CPR and AED training on healthcare professionals' self-perceived attitudes to performing resuscitation

Seroconversion by EMS Personnel Vaccinated with HBV Recombinant DNA

Paramedic knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and transmission in an Australian emergency medical system

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