PREVALENCE OF NEEDLE STICK INJURIES AMONG NURSES WORKING IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH HOSPITALS

Abstract

Exposure to needle stick injuries during any procedures involving sharps are themajor problem threatens Healthcare workers life. Healthcare workers are exposed toneedle stick injuries during performing any procedures involving sharps. The study aims toassess the prevalence of needle stick injuries or sharps stick injuries among nurses workingin the Ministry of Health and Population Hospitals in Dakhlia Governorate. A Crosssectionalstudy design was used to utilized this study and four tools were used in this study.1) Self- administered structured questionnaire about nurse's personal and occupationaldata, 2) Self-administered structured questionnaire about nurse's knowledge regardingneedle stick injuries, 3) Self-administered structured questionnaire about nurse's behaviorregarding measures obtained after needle stick injuries, 4) Self-administered structuredquestionnaire about nurse's subjective practice. The study was consists of 364 nurses whenthe population size = 6908 nurses who were working at hospitals affiliated to the Ministryof Health and Population Dakahlia Governorate. Results. This study showed that 304(83.6) from studied nurses exposed to needle stick injuries and the average score of nurses'knowledge about NSI was significantly higher among the young age nurses while theaverage practice score was significantly increased with age. Conclusion. Most of nurseshad good and fair knowledge about NSI. While more than two third of them hadunsatisfactory practice of correct behavior in their work. Recommendations. Evaluate theimpact of Needle Stick Injury on nurses' quality of life by using health assessmentquestionnaire in the different department.