Abstract

Needle stick injuries (NSI) are the wounds caused by needles that accidentally puncture the skin and transmit approximately twenty pathogens especially blood-borne viruses. It enters within the body through a small innocent pore may injure the body with deadly blood borne pathogens like HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) and HIV (Human immunodeficiency Virus). Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2004) estimates that each year approximately 3, 85,000 needle stick injuries and other sharp injuries are sustained by hospital based health care personnel1. In USA the number of needle stick injuries is estimated to be one million per year2. Unreported needle stick and sharp injuries are serious problem. About 40 -70 % of all needle stick injuries are unreported3 due to lack of knowledge. Only 10 % knew how to report in spite of a comprehensive training and education programme (Trim et al, 2003)4. The health care workers, particularly the staff nurses frequently get needle stick injuries in different ways during giving care to the patient, but neglect the injuries most of the time. Therefore, nurses should have knowledge regarding the importance of prevention and management of needle stick injuries. In order to stay healthy they should protect themselves not only from the known infected cases but also from all patients whose viral status is not known.

Objective: To estimate the knowledge of staff nurses regarding prevention and management of needle stick injuries.

To identify the existing practices of staff nurses regarding needle stick injuries.

To relate the knowledge and practices of staff nurses regarding needle stick injuries.

Study Design: A Descriptive survey included 100 staff nurses to identify knowledge and existing practices regarding prevention and management of needle stick injuries. The conceptual framework of study was based on Health Belief Model and the research approach adopted was Descriptive Correlation survey approach. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 100 professionally qualified (GNM Gr. II) staff nurses of a District Hospital in West Bengal. A structured knowledge questionnaire and an observation check list were used to collect data after establishing reliability and validity.

Result: The study findings revealed that there is significant relationship between knowledge and practices of staff nurses(r= 0.7, t= 11.12, p< 0.05).Chi –square test also showed significant association between knowledge and practice scores and incidence of NSI (p <05).

Conclusion:  Knowledge among staff nurses regarding risks and hazards associated with NSI and its management is inadequate. Existing practices among them are also not adequate for safe practicing and implementation of universal precaution in wards. Regular training of the nursing staff regarding prevention and management of NSI can ensure awareness and safety. Besides the availability of sufficient syringe-needles, needle-cutter and other protective devices, good infection control technique is very essential to avoid injury and there by occurrence of dreadful blood borne diseases.

Keywords: Needle sticks injury (NSI).