Reported needle stick injuries amongst health care workers in regional hospitals in the Free State Province
Nophale, Letshego Elizabeth
English: The aim of this study was to investigate reported needle stick injuries amongst health care workers in regional hospitals in the Free State Province during the time period January 2006-September 2007. Needle stick injuries were defined as any injury caused by different types of needle devices, irrespective of the purpose of use. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and retrospective design was used. Data was collected through an interview using a questionnaire. The total population interviewed was 100 health care workers, namely doctors; professional nurses; staff nurses; auxiliary nurses and general assistants. Descriptive statistics, namely frequencies and percentages for categorical data, medians and percentiles for continuous data were calculated and compared by means of 95% confidence intervals for all categories of health care workers. The results of the study indicated that health care workers are at risk of sustaining needle stick injuries in the course of their work. The reported causes of the needle stick injuries were issues related to policy non-compliance, coupled with the use of unsafe needle devices. Ninety-nine health care workers (91.92%) were aware of the needle stick injury policy, eighty health care workers had in-service training (80%) on the prevention and eighty-three health care workers had in-service training on the management of needle stick injuries (83%). Fifty general assistants (50%) reported needle stick injuries due to wrong disposal of used needles. Injection needles (47%) accounted for the majority of needle stick injuries. A total of eighty health care workers (80%) reported two to six times occurrences of needle stick injuries. The peak time of needle stick injuries reported was between 07:00-10:00 for all health care workers, except for doctors. Less needle stick injuries were reported between 19:00-23:00 (8.42%:n=8/95) and between 23:00-06:00 (6.32%:n=6/95). Health care workers (85%:n=85) received post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within two hours post needle stick injuries. The findings indicated that there is a need to address the needle stick injury “policy implementation” and “review” to include updated exposure prevention strategies. Continuous training of health care workers and evaluation of such interventions should be done to reduce the exposure to needle stick injuries. Policy compliance needs Management support and a team approach.
Afrikaans: Die doel van die studie was om aangemelde naaldprikbeserings onder gesondheidsorgwerkers vir die Vrystaatse Openbare Gesondheidsektor streekshospitale te ondersoek wat gedurende die periode Januarie 2006-September 2007 voorgekom het. In hierde studie is naaldprikbeserings gedefinieër as enige besering wat deur verkillende tipes naaldtoestelle, ongeag die doel of die gebruik daarvan versoorsaak is. ‘n Kwantitatiewe, nie-eksperimentele, beskrywende en retrospektiewe ontwerp is gebruik. Data is deur middel van ‘n onderhoud met behulp van ‘n vraelys versamel. Die totale populasie met wie onderhoude gevoer is, was 100 gesondheidsorgwerkers, te wete, dokters, professionele verpleegkundiges, ingeskrewe verpleegkundiges, verpleeghulpe en algemene assistente (skoonmakers). Beskrywende statistiek, naamlik, frekwensies en persentasies vir kategoriese data en mediane en persentiele vir aaneenlopende data is bereken en vergelyk ten opsigte van al die kategorieë van gesondheidsorgwerkers deur middel van ‘n 95% betroubaarheidsinterval. Die bevindinge van die studie het daarop gedui dat gesondheidsorgwerkers ‘n risiko loop in die verloop van hulle werk om naaldprikbeserings op te doen. Die oorsake wat aangedui is, het verband gehou het met verontagsaming van beleide, tesame met die gebruik van onveilige naaldtoestelle. Een en negentig gesondheidsorgwerkers (91.92%) was bewus van die naaldprikbeseringsbeleid, tagtig het indiensopleiding rakende die voorkoming (80%) en drie en tagtig het indiensopleiding rakende die hantering van naaldprikbeserings (83%) gehad. Vyftig algemene assistente (50%) het naaldprikbeserings opgedoen as gevolg van die verkeerde metode gebruik is om van gebruikte naalde ontslae te raak. Die meeste van die naaldprikbeserings (47%) is deur inspuitingsnaalde (spuitnaalde) veroorsaak. ‘n Totaal van tagtig gesondheidsorgwerkers (80%) het twee tot ses naaldprikbeserings aangemeld. Die spitstyd van gerapporteerde naaldprikbeserings was tussen 07:00-10:00 vir alle gesondheidsorgwerkers, behalwe vir dokters. Minder naaldprikbeserings was gedurende 19:00-23:00 (8.42%:n=8/95) en 232 tussen 23:00-06:00 (6.32%:n=6/95) aangemeld. Gesondheidsorgwerkers (85%:n=85) het na-blootstelling profilakse binne twee ure na die naaldprikbeserings ontvang. Die bevindinge het aangedui dat daar ‘n behoefte is om die naaldprikbeseringsbeleid met betrekking tot “implementering” en “hersiening” van opgedateerde blootstellingsvoorkomingspraktyke aan te spreek. Volgehoue opleiding en evaluasie van gesondheidsorgwerkers moet gedoen word om blootstelling aan naaldprikbeserings te beperk. Die ondersteuning van die bestuur asook ‘n spanbenadering is nodig om te verseker dat die beleid nagevolg word.