Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital on Needle Stick Injury

Purpose: Needle-stick injury (NSI) is one of the most potential occupational hazards for healthcare workers because of the transmission of blood-borne pathogens. As per recent data, around 30 lakh healthcare workers sustain Needle stick injuries each year. This study was conducted to assess healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitude and practices regarding needle stick injury. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital over the period of 3 months. The study population consisted of Intern Doctors, Post Graduate resident Doctors, Staff Nurses, laboratory technicians of Government Medical College and New Civil Hospital, Surat (n = 300). The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire via the means of Google Forms. Questionnaire was made with prior review literature. The data obtained were entered and analysed in Microsoft Excel. Results: The prevalence of NSI in our study was 46%, with a higher prevalence among the PG residents (72%). Overall scores regarding knowledge and attitude were better in PG residents (knowledge score > 7 in 71% and Attitude Score > 7 in 68% of PG Residents). Even though the PG residents scored highest in the knowledge category, the majority of them suffered needle stick injuries as a result of poor practice scores. Among those who had NSI (n = 139/300), 70% of study participants had superficial injuries, only 9% reported the incident, 18% got medical attention within 2 hours of the incident, and 7% followed up to recheck their viral markers status. Most incidents of NSI were due to hypodermic needles while recapping needles. Conclusion: Exposure to needle stick injuries and their underreporting remains a common problem. It is imperative that healthcare workers receive regular training on the proper handling of sharp objects. We can also draw the conclusion that preventing NSIs requires putting knowledge into practice.

Prevalence of Occupational Injury and Knowledge of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Accessibility among Healthcare Workers in Mogadishu, Somalia

Introduction: Healthcare workers in Mogadishu, Somalia face significant occupational injury risks, particularly needle stick injuries, with 61.1% reporting incidents. This poses a serious threat to their health, leading to infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Despite the high prevalence of injuries, awareness of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) accessibility is relatively high, with 84.0% of respondents aware of it. However, there are gaps in knowledge and implementation, as evidenced by variations in availability of PEP. Improving workplace safety measures, providing comprehensive training on injury prevention and PEP protocols, and ensuring consistent availability of PEP in healthcare facilities are crucial steps to safeguard the well-being of healthcare workers in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among hospital workers in Mogadishu, Somalia, focusing on professionals from various healthcare facilities. The study targeted nurses, doctors, laboratory personnel, and pharmacists. Purposive sampling was employed, resulting in a sample size of 383 calculated using Fisher’s sample size formula. Data were collected using coded questionnaires entered into Microsoft Excel 2019 and analyzed with SPSS software to generate frequencies and proportions, presented through frequency tables and pie figures. Results: The study in Mogadishu, Somalia, examined the prevalence of occupational injuries and knowledge of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) accessibility among healthcare workers. Findings indicate a high prevalence of injuries, with 61.1% reporting incidents, predominantly needle stick injuries (60.6%). Despite the majority seeking prompt medical attention (72.0%), work-related illnesses affected 53.2% of respondents, notably work-related stress (59.5%). While most received training on injury and illness prevention (68.9%), gaps exist in PEP awareness, with 16.0% unaware of it. Nonetheless, 84.0% were aware, predominantly through health facilities (52.0%). Availability of PEP was reported by 71.3% in healthcare facilities, with variations in shift availability. The majority reported guidelines for PEP use (55.7%). Efforts are needed to bolster PEP awareness and ensure consistent availability in healthcare facilities to safeguard worker health. Conclusion: High prevalence of occupational injuries among healthcare workers, with needle stick injuries being the most common (60.6%). Despite this, 84.0% of respondents were aware of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), primarily learning about it from health facilities (52.0%). While 71.3% reported the availability of PEP in their facility, 28.7% noted its unavailability. These results emphasize the need for improved education and accessibility of PEP to mitigate occupational injury risks.

Association of overtime work and obesity with needle stick and sharp injuries in medical practice

BACKGROUND Needle stick and sharps injuries(NSIs)may cause infections among medical personnel.Obesity and overtime work among medical personnel increase the incidence of work injuries.AIM To investigate whether overtime work and obesity increase the risk of NSIs.METHODS This cross-sectional study used the data of 847 hospital personnel,including 104 doctors,613 nurses,67 medical laboratory scientists,54 specialist technicians,and nine surgical assistants.Of them,29 participants notified the hospital of having at least one NSI in 2017.The data collected included age,overtime work,body mass index,medical specialty such as doctor or nurse,and professional grade such as attending physician or resident.Theχ2 and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare categorical variables.Multiple logistic regression analysis and the Sobel test were used to assess the risk of NSIs.RESULTS Overtime work,body weight,and medical specialty were significantly associated with NSIs(P<0.05).After adjustment for risk factors,heavy overtime work was an independent risk factor for NSIs,and healthy body weight and nursing specialty were independent protective factors against NSIs.After adjustment for risk factors,medical personnel with healthy body weight has half as many NSIs as those with unhealthy body weight;the proportion of NSIs in doctors with healthy body weight was 0.2 times that in doctors with unhealthy body weight;the proportion of injuries among residents was 17.3 times higher than that among attending physicians;the proportion of injuries among junior nurses was 3.9 times higher than that among experienced nurses;the proportion of injuries among nurses with heavy overtime work was 6.6 times higher than that among nurses with mild overtime work;and the proportion of injuries among residents was 19.5 times higher than that among junior nurses.Heavy overtime work mediated the association of medical specialty with NSIs.CONCLUSION In addition to promoting the use of safety needles and providing infection control education,managers should review overtime schedules,and medical personnel should be encouraged to maintain a healthy weight.

Sustained viral response of a case of acute hepatitis C virus infection via needle-stick injury

A 29-year-old nurse with a hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection caused by needle-stick injury was treated with interferon-beta starting about one year after the onset of acute hepatitis. The patient developed acute hepatitis C with symptoms of general fatigues, jaundice, and ascites 4 wk after the needle-stick injury. When these symptoms were presented, the patient was pregnant by artificial insemination. She hoped to continue her pregnancy. After delivery, biochemical liver enzyme returned to normal levels. Nevertheless, HCV RNA was positive and the pathological finding indicated a progression to chronicity. The genotype was lb with low viral load. Daily intravenous injection of interferon-beta at the dosage of six million units was started and continued for eight weeks. HCV was eradicated without severe adverse effects. In acute hepatitis C, delaying therapy is considered to reduce the efficacy but interferon-beta therapy is one of the useful treatments for hepatitis C infection in chronic phase.

PUSHING-PLUCKING STIMULATION OF ACUPOINTS WITH OX-HORN-MADE STICK NEEDLE FOR TREATMENT OF APOPLECTIC HEMIPLEGIA

The present series of treatment were made up of 103 cases of apoplectic hemiplegia patients. 55 cases of them formed stick needle group and were treated by using pushing plucking manipulation with stick needle and 48 cases formed filiform needle group and were treated with routine filiform needle. After 4 courses of treatment, results showed that the effective rates of stick needle group and filiform needle group were 54.5% and 52.08% respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant difference between these two groups. Thus, stick needle is useful in convalescence medicine.

Clinical efficacy of sticking-needle acupuncture plus tendon-regulating manipulation in the treatment of acute ankle sprain

Objective To explore the treatment effect of sticking-needle acupuncture plus tendon-regulating manipulation on pain,swelling and joint dysfunction due to acute ankle sprain.Methods A total of 80 patients with acute ankle sprain were recruited and divided into a control group and a treatment group according to the random number table method,with 40 patients in each group.Both groups received the same conventional interventions.The control group was treated with additional tendon-regulating manipulation,and the treatment group was treated with tendon-regulating manipulation plus sticking-needle acupuncture.The pain,swelling and joint dysfunction of the ankle were observed in both groups before and after 3 d,7 d and 14 d of treatment.Results Before treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the visual analog scale(VAS)score of pain between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the VAS scores of both groups showed a decreasing trend over time,and the differences within the groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).After 3 d,7 d and 14 d of treatment,the VAS scores in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Before treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the degree of swelling between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the degrees of swelling in both groups showed a decreasing trend over time,and the differences within the groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).After 3 d and 7 d of treatment,the degrees of swelling in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in the degree of swelling between the two groups after 14 d of treatment(P>0.05).Before treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society(AOFAS)ankle-hindfoot scale score between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale scores of both groups showed an increasing trend over time,and all the differences within the groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).After 3 d,7 d and 14 d of treatment,the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale scores in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion Based on the routine intervention,the addition of sticking-needle acupuncture and tendon-regulating manipulation was better in alleviating pain and swelling and improving joint function in patients with acute ankle sprain than the addition of tendon-regulating manipulation alone.

Clinical Observation of Needle-blocking Therapy for Immune Sterility in 79 Cases

Objective： To observe the effect of a needle-blocking treatment on immune sterility. Method： Main points were Ganshu （BL 18）, Shenshu （BL 23）, Xinshu（BL 15）, Geshu（BL 17）, Taichong（LR 3）, Taixi（KI 3）, Shenmen（HT 7） and Xuehai （SP 10）. The method of needle blocking subsequent to its insertion into the point was used to treat 79 patients with immune infertility. Results and conclusion： After 4 months＇ treatment, recovery was attained in 31 cases, marked effectiveness in 38 cases, effectiveness in 3 cases and ineffectiveness in 7 cases, the total effective rate being 91.1%. After the treatment, seminal sperm density, livability and vitality were increased, indicating that a needle-blocking method had a markedly improving effect on the abnormal semen in the patients with immune sterility.