Health-care personnel working in an ambulance may be at risk for work-related @entity281 , especially @entity1503 . This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess occupational risks and their preventive practices for @entity1503 among ambulance personnel working in a provincial hospital network. One hundred sixty-one personnel who voluntarily participated were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The one-month history of risk exposures to @entity1503 was collected. In order to cover the real situation of @entity1 care practices among ambulance personnel during working, 30 ambulance runs were observed. Data from the questionnaire and field observation were analyzed and presented by descriptive statistics. The results indicated that 82% had a history of contact with @entity1087 @entity1 , and 95% had a history of contact with @entity791 @entity1 . Approximately, 63.4% had a history of contact with @entity1 ' blood through injuries; of these, 64.7% had @entity2949 , and 24.5% had sharp injuries. Data for blood-borne preventive practices from interviews reported 82.6% wore disposaiole gloves when doing a blood puncture or giving intravenous fluid/blood. Only 54% broke off drug vials with a clean cloth or @entity2708 wool to protect from an injury, in contradiction to recommended procedure. The mean score of preventive practices was 7.6  2.2; a score classified at a moderate level. However, data from field observations demonstrated only 30.3% of observed personnel (3/9) used aprons and goggles when contacting a large amount of blood, and only 11.1% (1/9) broke off drug vials with a clean cloths to protect from an injury. Continuous education and training, as well as the improvement of safety equipment are needed to better protect ambulance personnel from occupational risks.

Occupational risk towards XXXX among ambulance personnel in a provincial hospital network in Thailand.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity1087 :: ('MESH:D007565', 'Disease') :: ['jaundiced'] @entity2949 :: ('MESH:D016602', 'Disease') :: ['needle stick injuries'] @entity2708 :: ('3635', 'Species') :: ['cotton'] @entity1503 :: ('MESH:D006402', 'Disease') :: ['blood-borne infections'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infections'] @entity791 :: ('MESH:D000163', 'Disease') :: ['AIDS']
@entity1503 :: (MESH:D006402,Disease) :: ['blood-borne infections']
