Needle stick injuries: knowledge and practice among nurses in kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Every day while caring for patients, nurses are at risk to exposure to bloodborne pathogens potentially resulting in infections such as HIV or hepatitis B and C from needle stick injuries [NSI]. The level of risk for acquiring blood-borne infections depends on the number of patients with that infection in the health care facility and the precautions the health care workers perform while dealing with these patients. In Saudi Arabia, hepatitis B and C viruses pose a great threat to health care workers because of their high prevalence rate [8%-10% and 2%-6%] respectively, while HIV has a much lower prevalence rate 0.13%. Ninety Two nurses working at King Fahd University Hospital [KFUH], Al Khobar, Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia constitute the study subject. Astructured questionnaire was used to collect data related to vaccination status, history of exposure to NSI, knowledge regarding biological hazards, preventive measures and post exposure program and an observational checklist was used to assess nursesI competencies in using universal precautions. Results showed that more than half were between 20 to less than 30 years of age, 54.3% were non Saudi, all studied sample held a BSc in Nursing, work experience ranged from one year to 15 years and 85.9%were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus. Also, 11.9% of nurses with less than 5 years experience and 17.4% of nurses with more than 5 years experience had NSI at least once, While more than third 36.4%of those with more than 5 years experience and more than half 56.25% of those with more than 5 years experience report the incidence. Both Saudi and non Saudi nurses [90.5%, 94%] respectively possessed poor knowledge regarding diseases transmitted by NSI, universal precaution, measures to be carried out after NSI, and safer needle devices. Moreover, 50% of Saudi nurses possessed good practice score while 40% of non Saudi nurses possessed good practice score, this difference in total practice score between Saudi and non Saudi nurses regarding their competency in universal precautions is not statistically significant. The total practice score of universal precautions is better than the total knowledge score regarding diseases transmitted by NSI, universal precaution, measures to be carried out after NSI, and safer needle devices among nurses and this difference was statistically significant. The findings of the present study emphasize the importance of increased awareness, training and education of nurses for reporting and prevention of needle stick injuries and risks associated with occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens