Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, Palestine

Occupational hazards, exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF) accidents and safety precautions constitute an important public health issue. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of exposure to occupational hazards among nurses, and their knowledge of occupational safety precautions. In a cross...

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Main Authors: IA Al-Khatib, W El Ansari, TA Areqat, RA Darkhawaja, SH Mansour, MA Tucktuck, JI Khatib
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Health Organization 2015-10-01
Series:The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.theijoem.com/ijoem/index.php/ijoem/article/view/581
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spelling doaj-d76dbf4473ed4e7e8ed1db28e048752f2020-11-24T21:29:17ZengNational Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Health OrganizationThe International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine2008-65202008-68142015-10-0164243610.15171/ijoem.2015.581223Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, PalestineIA Al-Khatib0W El Ansari1TA Areqat2RA Darkhawaja3SH Mansour4MA Tucktuck5JI Khatib6Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University, West Bank, PalestineFaculty of Applied Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Campus, Oxstalls Lane, Gloucester GL2 9HW, UKFaculty of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University, West Bank, PalestineFaculty of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University, West Bank, PalestineFaculty of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University, West Bank, PalestineFaculty of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University, West Bank, PalestineFaculty of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University, West Bank, PalestineOccupational hazards, exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF) accidents and safety precautions constitute an important public health issue. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of exposure to occupational hazards among nurses, and their knowledge of occupational safety precautions. In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed 332 nurses working in 4 hospitals, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine, by a questionnaire. Bivariate analysis tested the associations between ever exposure and the high likelihood of BBF exposure and the independent socio-demographic and occupational variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations between the same two exposures and selected independent variables (those significant in the bivariate analysis). Prevalence of ever exposure to BBF was 51.7%, and was associated with working in private and charitable hospitals (OR 2.62, 2.68, respectively), having 4–6 family members (OR 0.52) and “nursing” being as one's top career choice at university (OR 0.48). The prevalence of high likelihood of BBF exposure was 62.2%, and was associated with working in charitable and private hospitals (OR 7.81, 2.43, respectively) and “nursing” being as one's top career choice (OR 0.57). Regarding knowledge, most respondents believed it is necessary to enact laws and regulations regarding occupational safety precautions, reported the use of sharps containers, immediate disinfection after an accident, reporting an accident, and using personal protective equipment. Nurses had adequate knowledge of the risks of their hospital work. Nevertheless, they exhibited high prevalence of exposure to BBF accidents. Future studies are needed to re-evaluate existing occupational safety guidelines in hospitals, establish monitoring and evaluation protocols for health care workers' adherence to the guidelines, and institute well-defined policies for reporting occupational injury incidents so these can be handled appropriately.http://www.theijoem.com/ijoem/index.php/ijoem/article/view/581Occupational saftyOccupational exposureNursesBlood safetyBody fluidsHealth knowledge, attitudes, practicePalestine
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author IA Al-Khatib
W El Ansari
TA Areqat
RA Darkhawaja
SH Mansour
MA Tucktuck
JI Khatib
spellingShingle IA Al-Khatib
W El Ansari
TA Areqat
RA Darkhawaja
SH Mansour
MA Tucktuck
JI Khatib
Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, Palestine
The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Occupational safty
Occupational exposure
Nurses
Blood safety
Body fluids
Health knowledge, attitudes, practice
Palestine
author_facet IA Al-Khatib
W El Ansari
TA Areqat
RA Darkhawaja
SH Mansour
MA Tucktuck
JI Khatib
author_sort IA Al-Khatib
title Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, Palestine
title_short Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, Palestine
title_full Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, Palestine
title_fullStr Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, Palestine
title_full_unstemmed Occupational Safety Precautions among Nurses at Four Hospitals, Nablus District, Palestine
title_sort occupational safety precautions among nurses at four hospitals, nablus district, palestine
publisher National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Health Organization
series The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
issn 2008-6520
2008-6814
publishDate 2015-10-01
description Occupational hazards, exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF) accidents and safety precautions constitute an important public health issue. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of exposure to occupational hazards among nurses, and their knowledge of occupational safety precautions. In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed 332 nurses working in 4 hospitals, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine, by a questionnaire. Bivariate analysis tested the associations between ever exposure and the high likelihood of BBF exposure and the independent socio-demographic and occupational variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations between the same two exposures and selected independent variables (those significant in the bivariate analysis). Prevalence of ever exposure to BBF was 51.7%, and was associated with working in private and charitable hospitals (OR 2.62, 2.68, respectively), having 4–6 family members (OR 0.52) and “nursing” being as one's top career choice at university (OR 0.48). The prevalence of high likelihood of BBF exposure was 62.2%, and was associated with working in charitable and private hospitals (OR 7.81, 2.43, respectively) and “nursing” being as one's top career choice (OR 0.57). Regarding knowledge, most respondents believed it is necessary to enact laws and regulations regarding occupational safety precautions, reported the use of sharps containers, immediate disinfection after an accident, reporting an accident, and using personal protective equipment. Nurses had adequate knowledge of the risks of their hospital work. Nevertheless, they exhibited high prevalence of exposure to BBF accidents. Future studies are needed to re-evaluate existing occupational safety guidelines in hospitals, establish monitoring and evaluation protocols for health care workers' adherence to the guidelines, and institute well-defined policies for reporting occupational injury incidents so these can be handled appropriately.
topic Occupational safty
Occupational exposure
Nurses
Blood safety
Body fluids
Health knowledge, attitudes, practice
Palestine
url http://www.theijoem.com/ijoem/index.php/ijoem/article/view/581
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