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Volume 13 Issue 9 (September) 2024

Original Articles

A Comprehensive Study on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Needle stick injury among Healthcare Workers at a tertiary care hospital in Southern Karnataka
Anupama A, Sreeja S, Kavita N, Vidya R

Introduction: Needle stick injury is a major healthcareconcern as it not only transmits infection like HIV, Hepatitis B and C but it also leads to severe emotional distress resulting in loss of working days affecting the health care delivery system. Adequate sensitization resulting in good knowledge,attitude, and practices in healthcare personnels can prevent needle stick injury and also help them to take proper action if the injury occurs so as to prevent further complications. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the status of knowledge, attitudes,and practices as well as the reporting trend among healthcare workers about NSIsso that appropriate sensitization and trainings can be planned out routinely with regular monitoring. Material and Method: A standardised structured questionnaire as Google form, was used to collect data from all participants uniformly. This method ensured consistency and reliability in gathering information regarding participants' knowledge(9), attitudes(6), and practices (5) related to needle stick injuries. The data analysis and comparison across different categories of healthcare workers was done by linking the google form to MS excel and further statistical significance of the data was analysed using SPSS v26. Results: We received a total of 253 responses in a period of 2 months. Medical interns (35.9%) being the maximum responders followed by Medical PGs (26.1%). Among the knowledge questions; question on Protective titer of anti HBs, Post exposure prophylaxis on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV) and follow up testing of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and Hepatitis C(HCV)had maximum no of incorrect responses resulting in poor performance (<60%). None of the attitude questions had poor responses. Among the practices (76%) and needle destruction practices(50.4%) was followed by many participants which is one of the main factors resulting in needle stick injuries. Of the 253 study participants, 41 had history of NSI of which only 31 (75.6%) had reported the injury and got the source and themselves tested for HIV, HbsAg and HCV.The maximum needle stick injury occurred during a procedure and administration of drug (total of 60.9%). Recapping has resulted in only 5(12.19%) of NSIs in our study. Conclusion: Our study was able to get a current status in less time regarding the needle stick injury reporting as well as the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care staff. We could not elicit any statistically significant difference in the above with respect to job category and job experience. The importance of confirming the response to vaccine is very important and anti HBs titer after 3rd dose as a mandatory should be included in the hospital as well national policies. The sensitization classes are important along with it constant reminders in form of posters, google form, questionnaire, regular audits, evaluation tests is required for proper reporting and prevention of needle stick injury and is complications

 
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