A cross sectional study on needle stick injuries, its associated factors and prophylactic measures among nursing staffs and students of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai

Dr Rajesh J,Dr Mr S.P Thamizhmaran

doi:10.17511/ijphr.2019.i2.01

Dr Rajesh J, Dr Mr S.P Thamizhmaran

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17511/ijphr.2019.i2.01

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Abstract

Introduction: Nurses have the highest rate of Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) among health care workers. Objectives: 1. To determine the prevalence of NSIs in the past three months among nursing staffs and students of a Tertiary Care Hospital and the factors associated with it. 2. To assess the pre and post exposure prophylactic measures related to NSIs followed by them. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2017 among 354 subjects including 218 staff nurses and 136 nursing students of a Tertiary Care Government Hospital in Chennai City.After the Institutional Ethics Committee approval, subjects were interviewed with a pre-designed semi structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using relevant descriptive and inferential statistics with trial version of SPSS.v.25.0 Results: Prevalence of NSIs in the past three months was 29.7% (n=105). Majority 79 (58.1%) nursing students had experienced NSIs. Two handed recapping of syringes was significantly associated withNSIs (P = 0.001, OR = 4.363, 95% C.I = 2.033 – 9.364). Around40 (38.1%) of the NSIs had occurred most commonly at the In-patient wards. Majority 62 (59%) of them had never reported about their NSI while only 25 (23.8%) had reported regularly. Among those who got vaccinated with HBV vaccine (n = 57) for pre-exposure prophylaxis,only 13(22%) had taken three doses of HBV. Conclusion:Two handed recapping of syringes, non-usage of gloves, lack of assistance and inattentiveness during procedures, especially among nursing students are the major associated factors for occurrence of NSIs.

Highlights

Nurses have the highest rate of Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) among health care workers
Two handed recapping of syringes was significantly associated with NSIs (P = 0.001, OR = 4.363, 95% C.I = 2.033 – 9.364)
Among the 134 day scholars only 11 (8.2 %) had NSIs while among the 220 hostellers 94 (42.7 %) had NSIs and this association between residence and occurrence of NSIs was found statistically significant (P = 0.001, OR = 0.120, 95% C.I = 0.061 – 0.235)

Summary

Introduction

Nurses have the highest rate of Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) among health care workers. Conclusion: Two handed recapping of syringes, non-usage of gloves, lack of assistance and inattentiveness during procedures, especially among nursing students are the major associated factors for occurrence of NSIs. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), USA defines needle stick injuries as injuries caused by objects such as hypodermic needles, blood collection needles, intravenous (IV) stylets and needles used to connect parts of IV delivery systems [1]. Most exposures among health-care workers are caused by percutaneous injuries with sharp objects contaminated with blood or body fluids. These sharps include needles, scalpels, lancets and broken glass. More than 90% of these infections occur in developing countries but most of these NSIs remain unreported

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