Abstract
Background & Objectives:The study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of body and blood fluid exposure incidents such as needle stick injuries, direct contact, splashes, and cuts among health care personnel (HCP) in operation theaters (OTs). The study objective was to investigate perception of safety culture and potential challenges faced by HCP in Pakistani context.Methods:An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted in four tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad that were Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital (ANTH), Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and Holy Family Hospital (HFH) during March, 2019 to June, 2019. The data of the current study was collected from surgical staff in OTs at four tertiary care teaching hospitals including nurses, house officers, post graduate trainees, registrars, consultants, and technicians in the twin cities i.e., Rawalpindi and Islamabad.Results:In our findings (N=367) there was a high prevalence of exposure incidents in past six months, 45% had had got a needle injury, 36% have got a splash, 28.8% had direct contact and 35.6% had a cut once respectively in past six months, the occurrence of exposure incidents twice, thrice and more is also enormous.Conclusion:The study reflected a dire need of trainings at hospitals so that very strategically the importance of safety being a priority and value of HCP is inculcated on daily basis.
Highlights
In hospitals there are heightened chances for hospital acquired infections majorly because of clinically compromised state of patients admitted; during their stay, care, communication, and treatment; healthcare personnel (HCP) become prone to various communicable diseases and get exposed to biological hazards.[1,2] health care personnel (HCP) can have occupational accidents in the form of percutaneous and mucocutaneous injury, or blood contact with damaged skin through needles, sharps, splashes of blood and other body fluids into eyes, nose, or mouth.[3,4] Over 59 million HCP across the globe are prone of getting infected with AIDS, hepatitis, and tuberculosis by accidentally contaminating with patients’ bloodPak J Med Sci March - April 2021 Vol 37 No 2 www.pjms.org.pk 379 and body fluids
Safety culture in operation theaters (OTs) is intended so that systems, and processes are channeled where potential risk factors are reduced in OTs
The objectives of the study are to estimate the prevalence of exposure incidents in HCP in OTs; to understand perception about safety culture and to explain the challenges faced by HCP in OTs
Summary
Pak J Med Sci March - April 2021 Vol 37 No 2 www.pjms.org.pk 379 and body fluids. This global issue is overlooked, poorly prevented, and pronounce in developing nations.[5] Operation theatres (OTs) are the hospital engine room delivering high volume and fast paced procedures.[6] Safety culture in OTs is intended so that systems, and processes are channeled where potential risk factors are reduced in OTs. The study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of body and blood fluid exposure incidents such as needle stick injuries, direct contact, splashes, and cuts among health care personnel (HCP) in operation theaters (OTs). Conclusion: The study reflected a dire need of trainings at hospitals so that very strategically the importance of safety being a priority and value of HCP is inculcated on daily basis
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