An Integrated Intervention for Increasing Clinical Nurses’ Knowledge of HIV/AIDS-Related Occupational Safety

Abstract

Background: Approximately 35 new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV) cases and at least 1000 serious infections are transmitted annually to health care workers. In China, HIV prevalence is increasing and nursing personnel are encountering these individuals more than in the past. Contaminated needle-stick injuries represent a significant occupational burden for nurses. Evidence suggests that nurses in China may not fully understand HIV/AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS) and HIV-related occupational safety. At this time, universal protection precautions are not strictly implemented in Chinese hospitals. Lack of training may place nurses at risk for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of integrated interventions on nurses’ knowledge improvement about reducing the risk of occupationally acquired HIV infection. Methods: We audited integrated interventions using 300 questionnaires collected from nurses at the Affiliated Hospital of Xiangnan University, a public polyclinic in Hunan Province. The intervention studied was multifaceted and included appropriate and targeted training content for hospital, department and individual levels. After three months of occupational safety integrated interventions, 234 participants who completed the program were assessed. Results: Of the subjects studied, 94.3% (283/300) were injured one or more times by medical sharp instruments or splashed by body fluids in the last year and 95.3% considered their risk of occupational exposure high or very high. After the intervention, awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge improved significantly (χ2 = 86.34, p = 0.00), and correct answers increased from 67.9% to 82.34%. Correct answers regarding risk perception were significantly different between pre-test (54.4%) and post-test (66.6%) (χ2 = 73.2, p = 0.00). When coming into contact with patient body fluids and blood only 24.0% of subjects used gloves regularly. The pre-test knowledge scores on universal precautions were relatively high. Correct answers about universal precautions improved significantly from pre-test (83.71%) to post-test (89.58%; χ2 = 25.00, p = 0.00). After the intervention, nurses’ attitude scores improved significantly from pre-test (3.80 ± 0.79) to post-test (4.06 ± 0.75; t = 3.74, p = 0.00). Conclusions: Integrated educational interventions enhance nurses’ knowledge of risk reduction for occupationally acquired HIV infections and improve the observance of universal precautionary procedures. This enhancement allows nurses to assume a teaching role for prevention and management of HIV/AIDS.

The Effect of an Educational Intervention on the Standard Precautions among Nurses in Kenya

“…This study established that the respondents considered to be knowledgeable in the Standard precautions had higher odds of being compliant with the Standard Precautions compared to those considered not knowledgeable (AOR 1.9, CI1.1-3.6). These findings are in conformity with the results posted by [18] which essentially means the educational program addressed some knowledge gaps identified in the Standard Precautions. However, another study [19] demonstrated a contrary result which infers that there could be other factors other than knowledge that determines of compliance to the Standard Precautions.…”

Needlestick injury prevention training among health care workers in the Caribbean

“…Exposures occur under a wide variety of scenarios, as evidenced by various studies (1)(2)(3)(4). The rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among health care workers that are caused by sharps injuries is higher in the Caribbean and Latin America than in other regions of the world (5).…”

A Study of HIV Knowledge and Stigma Among Health Care Workers from Istanbul-Turkey

“…When divided according to occupation, 25% of nurses and 8% of personnel gave the correct response. Studies show that especially nurses and laboratory employees encounter contact with blood and body fluids with needlestick accidents; however, when questions about the transmission rate due to being stuck by an infected patient's needle were asked, only a very small portion gave the correct answer (13,14). Studies, similarly, showed lack of information about occupational diseases and work accidents among health personnel (15,16), and that adding these topics to educational meetings during working life and even informing individuals who attend routine check-ups in occupational health clinics with special booklets/brochures will be beneficial.…”