ABSTRACT
Background: Injection is an important drug delivery system especially for severely ill patient, acute emergency condition and immunization. A safe injection is that, does not harm the recipient (patient), does not expose the provider (Health Workers) to any avoidable risk and does not result in waste that is dangerous for the community. Nursing personnel are an important risk group for occupational exposure to needle stick injuries as they are directly involved in the patient care activities like giving injections, starting IV line, taking blood sample etc. Objectives: To study the knowledge & impact of educational intervention of injection safety, post exposure prophylaxis following needle stick injury and segregation of bio medical waste among study nd rd nd rd participants. Methods: An Interventional study was carried out among 2 ,3 and final year B.Sc. & 2 ,3 year GNM nursing students of one of the Nursing Colleges in Ahmedabad. Results: Out of total, 233 (89.6%) were females and 27(10.4%) were males. Overall comparison between pre-test and post-test score regarding various factor of knowledge and practice of safe injection was statistically significant. Out of total, 36(13.8%) study participants were suffered from needle stick injury due to quickness or not wearing gloves. Only 11.1% study participants were not taking post exposure prophylaxis because of lack of knowledge and dread about long time medication course. Conclusion: Practice of injection safety standards was inappropriate except for routine use of hand gloves. The level of knowledge was poor especially in Post-Exposure Prophylaxis and Needle-prick injury accident management (NPIAM) protocol and register for post-exposure prophylaxis. Post-intervention assessment showed significant improvement in Knowledge for injection safety, PEP/NPIAM and category wise segregation of Bio-medical waste. Periodic reinforcement of the Nursing students by MBBS level educator with IEC and hands on training intervention will significantly protect them from NSIs and prevent the spread of blood borne pathogens.