Knowledge and practice of universal precautions among nursing staff at a tertiary care hospital in South Gujarat, India

Authors

  • Priti Solanky Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Valsad, Gujarat, India
  • Hinal Baria Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Valsad, Gujarat, India
  • Alka Nerulkar Department of Microbiology, GMERS Medical College, Valsad, Gujarat, India
  • Nilesh Chavda Department of Pharmacology, GMERS Medical College, Valsad, Gujarat, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20162890

Keywords:

Universal precautions, Needle stick injury, Nurses

Abstract

Background: Health care providers are at an increased risk of exposure to various infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C etc. These infections are prevented if proper universal precautions are observed by health care providers consistently in their day to day clinical work. In study we have explored knowledge and practice of universal precautions among nursing staff.

Methods: A cross sectional study carried out among staff nurses in December 2013. Self-administered semi structured proforma was used for data collection. Information regarding knowledge and practice of universal precautions was collected.

Results: Out of 88 participants interviewed, almost all of them reported of having awareness about universal precautions and personal protective equipments. Only 44.3% nurses mentioned all the correct measures for universal precautions. 89.77% nurses were aware about health hazards of needle stick injury but only 67.05% correctly reported about how needle stick injury can be prevented. 38.64% nurses had experienced needle stick injury while working and most of them (79.41%) followed proper guidelines.

Conclusions: correct knowledge regarding universal precautions among nursing staff is still not of satisfactory level and training at repeated interval needs to be given to ensure correct knowledge as well as implementation of universal precautions. 

References

Centers for disease control; Recommendations for the prevention of HIV transmission in healthcare settings. Morbidity and Mortality Report. 1987;36:1-18.

Stop sticks campaign. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/stopsticks/bloodborne.html. Accessed on 2nd July 2016.

World Health Organization. The word health report 2002: reducing rsks, promoting health life. World Health Organization, Geneva.

Fayaz SH, Higuchi M, Hirosawa T, Sarker MAB, Djabbarova Z, Hamajima N. Knowledge and practice of universal precautions among health care workers in four national hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2014;4(8):535-42.

Salehi, Garner P. Occupational injury history and universal precautions awareness: a survey in Kabul Hospital staff. BMC Infect Dis. 2010;10:19.

Motamed N, Mahmoodi BF, Khalilian A, Peykanheirati M, Nozari M. Knowledge and practices of health care workers and medical students towards universal precautions in hospitals in Mazandaran Province. East Mediterr Health J. 2006;12:653-61.

Wilson ES, Adeniran 0F, Ayebo ES, Ayo OO, Oladapo SS. Practice of universal precautions among healthcare workers. J National Med Asso. 2006;98(5):722-6.

Reuben FL, Norden CW, Rockwell K. Epidemiology of accidental needle puncture wounds in hospital workers. Am J Med Sci. 1983;286:26-30

Mccormick RD, Maki DG. Epidemiology of needle-stick injuries in hospital personnel. Am J Med. 1981;70:928-32.

Stein DD, Makarawo TP, Ahmad MF. A survey of doctor’s and nurse’s knowledge, attitudes and compliance with infection control guidelines in Birmingham teaching hospitals. J Hosp Infect. 2003;54:68-73.

NIOSH Alert: Preventing needle-stick injuries in health care setting. NIOSH 1999 Publication No. 2000-108.

Bio medical waste rules 2016. Issued by Government of India ministry of environment, forest and climate change. New Delhi, 28 March 2016.

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Federal Register: Occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens. Final rule. 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. Federal Register. 1991;56:235.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-24

How to Cite

Solanky, P., Baria, H., Nerulkar, A., & Chavda, N. (2016). Knowledge and practice of universal precautions among nursing staff at a tertiary care hospital in South Gujarat, India. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 3(9), 2373–2376. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20162890

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles