SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Shah S, Grivina M, Noura M, Farah A, Suwaidi S, Ameri D. Inj. Prev. 2012; 18(Suppl 1): A162-A163.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/injuryprev-2012-040590m.29

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background Sharp injuries predispose health care workers (HCWs) to serious infectious diseases. Data is lacking regarding sharp injuries among doctors and nurses working in trauma and surgical units in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Aims/Objectives/Purpose To identify the burden and cause of sharp injuries among health care workers.

Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in Emergency, Intensive care unit, General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments of two major teaching hospitals Tawam and Al Ain hospitals in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi Emirate. Data on sharp injuries were collected using a pilot-tested self-administered questionnaire.

Results/Outcome Of the study sample of 550 doctors and nurses approached, 306 (55.6%) responded. The prevalence of sharp injuries was 12% among the participants. A higher proportion of doctors (23%) compared to nurses (7%) had sharp injuries. There was significant correlation between those who worked ≥12 h per shift and having sharp injury (p<0.003). Injuries were mostly caused by two devices; syringe needles and suture needles (40% each). About 65% of the injured believed that stress and long shift hours contributed to their injury. More nurses (87%) than doctors (50%) reported their injuries. Only 68.4% of doctors and 86.4% of nurses received annual sharp safety training.

Significance/Contribution to the Field A high proportion of health care workers in major hospital had sharp injuries. Doctors were less likely to receive sharp safety training compared to nurses. There is need for safety training targeting health care workers in surgical and trauma units.

This is an abstract of a presentation at Safety 2012, the 11th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, 1-4 October 2012, Michael Fowler Center, Wellington, New Zealand. Full text does not seem to be available for this abstract.

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print