A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY TO EVALUATE NEEDLE STICK AND SHARP INJURIES AND THEIR RELATED SAFETY MEASURES AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN SHERI- KASHMIR INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, SOURA SRINAGAR J &K, INDIA

Background: Needle stick and sharp injuries are common in health care workers. They are always exposed to an increased risk of needle stick and sharp injury because of their competitive work environment and work related stress. They are one of the main ways of transmitting large numbers of pathogenic micro organisms in health care institutions. These injuries caused pose a risk of blood borne pathogens among health care workers. lack of knowledge regarding transmission of blood born diseases and safety measures can make the health care workers and also the patients at risk of transmission of infectious diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Needle stick and sharp injuries are not reported to concerned department of a hospital, hence the aim of the study was to evaluate the needle stick and sharp injuries and other related factors among health care workers in selected areas of SKIMS for effective protection. Methods: A cross sectional study design was chosen. Sample of 120 health care workers were selected by using simple random technique. Data was collected by self structured questionnaire. Results: It was observed that doctors have got the highest occurrence of NSI and sharp injuries (52.5%). recapping of needle (42.5%) was the most common cause for NSI among nursing staff, injection manipulating sharp in patient among doctors (32.5%), and transferring of body fluid from the syringe(35%) was found common incident in technicians. Only staff nurses (2.5%) had reported NSI to their concerned supervisors. The major reasons for not reporting NSI were increased workload(72.5% doctors , 62.5 nurses ) and lack of knowledge about reporting the injuries (37.5% technicians) injuries. 65% of doctors had good knowledge regarding NSI. (55%) staff nurses had average levelof knowledge and technicians (67.5%) had poor levelof knwedge regardng NSI. Before disposing of the sharp boxes maximum doctors( 20%)ensure that the box is secured and correctly assembled, staff nurses(20%) make sure that it is properly labeled before disposal and the maximum technicians(17.7%) says that before disposing of sharp box it should be locked up until it is collected. After administration of injection to patients doctors (70 %) and staff nurses (60%) destroy the needles, where as technicians (67.5%) re-sheath the needle. Doctors (27.5% ) and (35%)staff nurses use gloves while separating the needle from syringe were as (30%) Of technicians separate needle bare handed. 70% of doctors have received vaccination in the past, of which 35%(14) of them had complete their 3doses schedule of Hepatitis B vaccine, where as 60% of staff nurses have received vaccination in the past, of which37.5%(15) had complete their hepatitis B vaccine doses and only 32.5% technicians have received vaccination of which 22.5%(9) with complete doses of vaccination. 30% of doctors, 60% staff nurse and only 27.5% of technicians have checked the antibody titers after Hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusions: The study revealed a high prevalence of needle stick and sharp injuries. There is a need of some supportive measures such as improving injection practices, planning training programmes targeting safe handling and disposal of sharp objects and reporting of incidents to concerned authorities are essential for the effective prevention of these incidents among studied health care workers.