HCWs require specific educational programmes and training protocols to ensure that they are adequately protected when carrying out high quality care.

Safety Practice and ProfessionalExposure to Blood and Blood-Containing Materials in Serbian Health Care Workers: Aleksandra JOVIC-VRANES, et al. Institute of Social Medicine, Medical School University of Belgrade, Servia and Montenegro-Safety practice is an important element of workplace safety and quality of health care. To investigate the safety practice and professional exposure to blood and blood-containing materials during a one-year period among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in Serbia. Cross-sectional study of 1559 Serbian HCWs using a self-administered questionnaire. Mantel-Haenszel statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis were used in statistical analysis. Fifty-nine percent (921) of HCWs had skin contact with patients blood, followed by 51% (791) with needle stick injuries, 38% (599) with cuts from sharp instruments, and 34% with contact of eye and other mucosa with patient's blood. Nurses reported professional exposure more often than others. Safety practices consisted of using appropriate barriers (gloves, mask, glasses) in all procedures with patients and were used by 58%, 23%, and 4% of HCWs, respectively. Doctors protected themselves more regularly than others. Hospital protocols for post exposure prophylaxis and safety disposal of medical waste are not common in Serbian health care settings. Safety practices in use were having hospital guidelines for safety practice in hospitals [odds ratio (OR)=1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.14-2.19], carrying out some form of intervention with risks of infection (OR=3.76, 95% CI=2.57-5.51), and HCWs aware of the professional risk of acquiring infection (OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.28-1.79). This study indicates that emphasis on work practice, attire, disposal systems and education strategies, should be employed to reduce professional exposure to blood and blood containing materials

AbstractThe study was undertaken to assess job satisfaction among health care workers (HCWs) who work with disabled patients and to identify the factors that contribute to their job satisfaction. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at nine rehabilitation centers in Serbia. The study sample consisted of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and other HCWs (social workers, work and speech therapists, and psychologists). A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to 170 HCWs. Chi square testing and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied. The response rate was 97.1% (165/170). Overall job satisfaction was reported by 22.4% of the respondents and was associated with hospital politics (odds ratio [OR], 4.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–15.30], personal relationships (OR, 13.96; 95% CI, 4.07–47.92) and the feeling of being able to provide a good quality of care (OR, 5.24; 95% CI, 1.62–16.99). Profession, age, and gender did not affect job satisfaction. In conclusion, the results show very low job satisfaction among HCWs. Improving contributing factors may lead to higher job satisfaction and a better quality of health care.