Assessment of occupational exposure to sharp injuries among health care workers in King Abdulaziz University Hospital

Authors

  • Samia S. Abdulmageed Faculty of Nursing, Public Health Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Fatmah Alabbassi College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Mai Alradi College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Nebras Alghanaim College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Sundos Banjar College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Malak Alnakhli College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20181434

Keywords:

Sharp injuries, Healthcare workers, Occupational exposure

Abstract

Background: Sharps injuries are accidental infiltrating wounds that are typically the consequences of utilizing hazardous equipment in the usual fast-paced, and stressful health care setting. As a result, exposure to blood-borne pathogens from sharps injury poses a significant risk to health care workers. These injuries predispose the staff to dangerous infections such as hepatitis B, C and HIV. The aim of the study was to assess the occupational exposure to sharps injuries among health care workers in King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Nurses, residents, dentists, and housekeepers working in the surgical ward, obstetrics and gynaecology ward, emergency department, operation room, labor and delivery room, and dental clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital were included. A random sample of 161 subjects was recruited in this study using a self-administered structured questionnaire.

Results: Of 161 participants, 53 (32.90%) had a history of sharps injury. Among them 25 (47.16%) were nurses, both surgical and gynaecological residents had the same result of 11 (20.76%), and 6 (11.32%) of them were dentists. Most of the injuries had occurred during the use of the suture needle; 24 (45.28%) suggested that work overload was the main reason for sharps injury occurrence.

Conclusions: Among health care workers, nurses were especially at risk of exposure to sharps injury. The most important risk factors for injury occurrence include long working hours, continuous rotating shifts, and work overload. Also, not all of the health care workers knew about the hospital’s reporting system.

Author Biographies

Samia S. Abdulmageed, Faculty of Nursing, Public Health Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Faculty of Nursing

Fatmah Alabbassi, College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

College of Nursing

Mai Alradi, College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

College of Nursing

Nebras Alghanaim, College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

College of Nursing

Sundos Banjar, College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

College of Nursing

Malak Alnakhli, College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

College of Nursing

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Published

2018-04-24

How to Cite

S. Abdulmageed, S., Alabbassi, F., Alradi, M., Alghanaim, N., Banjar, S., & Alnakhli, M. (2018). Assessment of occupational exposure to sharp injuries among health care workers in King Abdulaziz University Hospital. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 5(5), 1756–1761. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20181434

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Section

Original Research Articles