To evaluate the level of knowledge and attitude of nurses working at King Fahd Central Hospital towards risks of transmission of blood-borne infections during daily work AND to identify their self-reported practices and their level of compliance to preventive and control measures of blood-borne infection.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study had been conducted among all the nurses' staff worked during data collection period at different departments of King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Self-administered questionnaire had been usedto collect relevant data of nurses' knowledge, attitude and self-reported practices towards Blood Borne Infections.
Results
A total of 528 nurses have participated in the study; mean age was (29.53± 8.06); 67% of nurses were under 30 years; the nurses mostly qualified with diploma or less (72%); only 39.5% have exceeded 5 years of experience; more than three quarters of nurses were familiar with blood borne infection patients (76.3%); 8.3% only were fully aware about the true probability of blood borne transmission through needle stick injury; 9.3% of nurses do not know that there is available vaccine for Hepatitis B virus as well as 63.1%, 37.5%, and 35.6% of participants thought HIV, HCV, and HBV patients should be isolated; 25.5% of participating nurses have exposed at least to a single needle-stick injury during last year. 40.9% of participants tend to frequently recap needles after use; Significant difference between male and female towards comfort of caring HCV patient (p-value=0.017). Both; females and nurses with bachelor or above were more adherent to HB vaccination (p-value< 0.001). High qualification nurses have the ability to recognize blood-borne infection more than less qualifications (p-value< 0.001). Duration of experience and higher qualification both play a role toward nurses' knowledge about standard precautions (p-value < 0.001 and 0.005 respectively).
Conclusion
The study showed variability in hepatitis B vaccination among nurses. Satisfactory level of knowledge regarding the transmission modes and standard precautions and preventive measures at hospital as well as immediate response after exposure, as well as satisfactory levels of attitude and self-reported practices. Almost all nurses feel that blood borne infection is a major or moderate occupational hazard but not minor. Poverty in continuous medical education about BBI and training courses for proper dealing with sharps; make them highly susceptible to be infected.