Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice
Purpose: Needlestick and sharps injury is an occupational hazard, and it presents with a constant risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Students are particularly at risk due to a lack of experience and handling skills. The present study was designed to assess the prevalence of needle stick inju...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=10;spage=6327;epage=6333;aulast=Datar |
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| author | Uma Vasant Datar Mamata Kamat Mahesh Khairnar Umesh Wadgave Karishma Madhusudhan Desai |
| author_facet | Uma Vasant Datar Mamata Kamat Mahesh Khairnar Umesh Wadgave Karishma Madhusudhan Desai |
| author_sort | Uma Vasant Datar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Needlestick and sharps injury is an occupational hazard, and it presents with a constant risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Students are particularly at risk due to a lack of experience and handling skills. The present study was designed to assess the prevalence of needle stick injury and evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding its prevention and management among students of a medical campus. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among healthcare students of the medical campus in Sangli, Maharashtra. Overall, the study included 942 participants belonging to medical, dental, and nursing faculties. Results: Overall, the prevalence rate of needlestick and sharps injury was found to be 25.2%. The prevalence was highest amongst nursing students. The students had adequate knowledge about blood-borne virus (BBV) transmission and prevention of needlestick injury. However, there was a substantial shortfall in post-exposure prophylaxis knowledge amongst the students. A deficit in translation between knowledge to practice was noted, particularly in the case of needlestick injury prevention and management. Conclusion: The present study found that one in four students experience needlestick injury; overall knowledge regarding prevention and management of needlestick injury was lesser than desired, and gaps in knowledge and practice were identified in the present study. This can be rectified by curricular reforms, periodic educational programs and stern reinforcement of guidelines. Instilling reporting centers and devising a standing operating procedure in the event of needlestick injury are the needs of the hour. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:47:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-32480da297244a8993b66fc336f3ff37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2249-4863 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:47:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-32480da297244a8993b66fc336f3ff372022-12-22T02:59:55ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632022-01-0111106327633310.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_155_22Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practiceUma Vasant DatarMamata KamatMahesh KhairnarUmesh WadgaveKarishma Madhusudhan DesaiPurpose: Needlestick and sharps injury is an occupational hazard, and it presents with a constant risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Students are particularly at risk due to a lack of experience and handling skills. The present study was designed to assess the prevalence of needle stick injury and evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding its prevention and management among students of a medical campus. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among healthcare students of the medical campus in Sangli, Maharashtra. Overall, the study included 942 participants belonging to medical, dental, and nursing faculties. Results: Overall, the prevalence rate of needlestick and sharps injury was found to be 25.2%. The prevalence was highest amongst nursing students. The students had adequate knowledge about blood-borne virus (BBV) transmission and prevention of needlestick injury. However, there was a substantial shortfall in post-exposure prophylaxis knowledge amongst the students. A deficit in translation between knowledge to practice was noted, particularly in the case of needlestick injury prevention and management. Conclusion: The present study found that one in four students experience needlestick injury; overall knowledge regarding prevention and management of needlestick injury was lesser than desired, and gaps in knowledge and practice were identified in the present study. This can be rectified by curricular reforms, periodic educational programs and stern reinforcement of guidelines. Instilling reporting centers and devising a standing operating procedure in the event of needlestick injury are the needs of the hour.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=10;spage=6327;epage=6333;aulast=Datarblood-borne pathogenhepatitis b virushuman immunodeficiency virusneedlestick injuriesoccupational exposure |
| spellingShingle | Uma Vasant Datar Mamata Kamat Mahesh Khairnar Umesh Wadgave Karishma Madhusudhan Desai Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care blood-borne pathogen hepatitis b virus human immunodeficiency virus needlestick injuries occupational exposure |
| title | Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice |
| title_full | Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice |
| title_fullStr | Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice |
| title_short | Needlestick and sharps' injury in healthcare students: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice |
| title_sort | needlestick and sharps injury in healthcare students prevalence knowledge attitude and practice |
| topic | blood-borne pathogen hepatitis b virus human immunodeficiency virus needlestick injuries occupational exposure |
| url | http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=10;spage=6327;epage=6333;aulast=Datar |
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