A Study to Assess the knowledge of Nursing Staff Regarding Needle Stick Injury in Selected Hospital Mysore

Background of the study: Needle stick injuries (NSIs) are among the most common accidents reported by healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and non-clinical staff.


Introduction
Needle stick injuries (NSIs) are among the most common accidents reported by healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and non-clinical staff. This is particularly worrying because hospital workers who are pricked with a needle may be at risk of contracting viruses that are carried in the bloodstream. The most serious of these include HIV and Hepatitis C. Over the past two decades, efforts have been made to reduce the rate of NSIs. The average risk of transmission of HIV to a health care worker after percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood has been estimated as 3 in 1000 [1]. Needle stick injuries have significant indirect consequences in health care delivery especially so in the developing countries, where already the qualified work force is limited with respect to the disease burden in the population. These injuries not only potentiate health consequences but also cause emotional distress in health care workers which results in missed workdays and directly affects the health care services and resources [2].

Need for the Study
According to a WHO study, the annual estimated proportions of health-care workers (HCW) exposed to blood-borne pathogens globally were 2.6% for HCV, 5.9% for HBV, and 0.5% for HIV, corresponding to about 16,000 HCV infections and 66,000 HBV infections in HCW worldwide [3].

Statement of the Problem
A study to assess the level of knowledge of nursing staff regarding needle stick injury in selected hospitals at Mysore.

Objectives of the Study
To assess the level of knowledge of nursing staff regarding needle stick injury b) To find the association between knowledge scores of nursing staff regarding needle stick injury with their selected personal variables.

Hypothesis
H1: there will be a significant association between knowledge of nursing staff regarding needle stick injury with their selected personal variables.

Assumptions
Nursing staff may have some knowledge regarding needle stick injury.

Instrument used for Data Collection
Section 1: Personal proforma to assess the personal variables such as age, sex, educational qualification, years of experience and department they work. Section 2: structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge regarding needle stick injury total 25 items which was developed with the help of research articles on meaning, causes, classification, prevention and management.

Data Collection Procedure
Formal administrative permission was obtained from Institution prior to data collection. Informed consent was obtained from the samples. 60 samples were selected by using non probability convenience sampling technique. Data was collected by administering personal proforma and structured knowledge questionnaire regarding needle stick injury. Staff took 30 min to fill the questions. Data collection process was terminated by thanking the samples.   Results: (Tables 1-3)

Conclusion
The present study revealed that knowledge scores of nursing staff regarding needle stick injury 1(1.66%) had poor knowledge, 25(41.66%) had average knowledge and 34(56.66%) had good knowledge among nursing staff.
Recommendations a) Similar study can be conducted by using true experimental approach b) A study can be conducted to assess the effectiveness of STP on knowledge of nursing staff regarding needle stick injury.

c)
Study can be done to compare the knowledge of nursing staff regarding needle stick injury among private and government hospitals.