Effectiveness of Intensive Interactive Classes and Hands on Practice to Increase Awareness about Sharps Injuries and Splashes among Health Care Workers
Published: July 1, 2015 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2015/.6219
Nonika Rajkumari, Purva Mathur, Jacinta Gunjiyal, Mahesh Chandra Misra
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
2. Additional Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine (Microbiology Division), Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
3. Nursing-in-Charge, Hospital Infection Control, Hospital Infection Control Unit, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
4. Professor, Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Correspondence
Dr. Nonika Rajkumari,
Assistant Professor,Department of Microbiology, 2nd Floor, Institute Block, JIPMER, Dhanvantri Nagar, Puducherry - 605006, India.
E-mail: nonika.raj@gmail.com
Background: Occupational exposure to sharps and splashes pose a major hazard among health care workers (HCWs); so knowledge and awareness regarding sharps/splashes by blood and potentially infectious body fluids (BBF) is a must. Hence, the study was done to assess the extent of knowledge of the staff and using awareness classes and hands on practice as a model to increase awareness as well as prevention.
Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional cohort study, using before – after trial, was conducted in a Level I trauma care centre. All cadres of HCWs were enrolled randomly into 5 different groups of 15 each. This study was conducted in 2 phases – interactive classes and hands on practice (Phase I) and questionnaire assessment and work area observation (phase II). This was repeated twice and the final outcome was analysed. A systematic level of grading was used to assess the improvement.
Results: It was observed that Group 1 (doctors) and group 2 (nurses) had the maximum knowledge about such exposures and its prevention compared to the other groups (groups 3, 4 and 5) during the initial assessment (Phase I). The remaining groups showed a major improvement after the 2nd assessment, though their knowledge was poor in the beginning. Groups 1and 2 showed 32% and remaining groups showed a 25% improvement in voluntary reporting after the second assessment (Phase II).
Conclusion: Awareness classes and hands on practice are indeed useful in generating knowledge about sharps/ splashes. Certain incentives given at right time can improve it further.
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