Prevalence of injuries and reporting of accidents among health care workers at the University Hospital of the West Indies

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
Kurt VazRachael Irving

Abstract

This study investigated the knowledge, awareness and practices of health care workers towards universal precautions at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The study also examined the prevalence of injuries experienced by health care workers, as well as incidence of accidents and compliance with post-exposure prophylaxis. A cross sectional survey was conducted in September and October 2007. A 28-item self-administered questionnaire was provided to two hundred health care workers including medical doctors, medical technologists, nurses and porters to assess knowledge and practices regarding universal precautions, prevalence of injuries and incidence of accidents. Almost two-thirds (62.3%) of the respondents were aware of policies and procedures for reporting accidents while one-third (33.2%) were unsure. All nurses were aware of policies and procedures for reporting accidents, followed by medical doctors (88%) and medical technologists (61.2%). The majority (81.5%) of the respondents experienced splashes from bodily fluid. Over three-quarters of medical doctors (78%) and two-thirds of nurses (64%) reported having experienced needle stick injuries, while the incidence among medical technologists was remarkably lower (26%)....Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 11, 2014·Workplace Health & Safety·Aydan Ercan, Gul Kiziltan
Apr 14, 2012·Journal of Infusion Nursing : the Official Publication of the Infusion Nurses Society·Lynn Hadaway
Jul 15, 2017·Journal of Investigative Medicine : the Official Publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research·Samrat U DasChad L Cross
Feb 9, 2018·Pharmacology Research & Perspectives·Asnakew Achaw AyeleHenok Getachew Tegegn
Feb 15, 2018·Work : a Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation·George Ongete, Francis John Raymond Duffy

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