Prevalence and characteristics of needlestick injuries among dental interns during their first-year clinical training: an observational study

IntroductionSharp object injuries in the medical field present a considerable occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs), encompassing a spectrum of consequences from immediate discomfort to enduring health consequences. These injuries may expose HCWs to potential infections. Despite efforts to control sharp object injuries in healthcare environments, they are present at every stage involving using or disposing of medical sharp instruments.In Jordan, limited research has focused on sharp object injuries, with most data included from studies concentrating on practicing nurses or nursing students. Consequently, further research is necessary to comprehend the causes behind the high sharp object injury rate and the insufficient knowledge of safety practices and preventive guidelines. ObjectivesThis study was conducted to investigate the impact of sharp object injuries on HCWs, underlying causes, and potential consequences causes of needlestick injuries. To highlight perspective and preventive imperatives. Methods and patientsThis retrospective institutional-based cross-sectional chart analysis was conducted by reviewing all sharp object injuries report sheets and extracting data directly from these reports for analysis. The study encompassed all reported cases occurring between 2018 and 2023. All the participants' data handling was accomplished according to the Declaration of Helsinki (2013) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Acts. ResultsA total of 146 self-reported hospital workers were included in the study. Within the final cohort, 52.73% of the participants were male (77/146), with an average age at diagnosis of 38.6±7.87 years (ranging from 20 to 52 years). Conversely, females comprised 47.27% of the cohort population (69/146) and had an average age at diagnosis of 34.73±6.73 years (ranging from 19 to 47 years). The age group 20-29 years was the most prominent age group, statistical analysis of age and gender data revealed significant differences.Injuries caused by sharp objects persist as a significant danger for hospital employees, posing immediate harm and long-term health risks linked to bloodborne pathogens.The findings stress the continuous responsibility of healthcare institutions to prioritize staff safety by addressing the root causes of sharp object injuries and fostering reporting and prevention cultures. Underreporting reasons are diverse, encompassing factors like time constraints, fear of consequences, and the misconception of injury insignificance.

“…A noteworthy observation considering it is not the dominant hand for most individuals. These findings are in line with other studies [13,23,37,38].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

How Sharp Objects Injuries Impact our Healthcare Workers: Unveiling Perspective and Preventive Imperatives

Ibrahim,

Kannan,

Al Habahbeh

et al. 2024

“…The increased incidence among interns supports the previous explanation that the inexperience of dental interns, besides the required number of cases for evaluating their performance increases their stress during work, especially in the absence of chairside assistance [ 4 , 24 ]. Another contributing factor to increased exposure in dental interns is a lapse in concentration where they are less focused when practicing [ 25 ]. Regarding students, this could be explained by the previous suggestions that insufﬁcient manual experience to deal with the instruments together with the enthusiasm to perform invasive techniques might increase the incidence of injury [ 4 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness and Reporting of Sharps Injuries: A Study Involving Dental Students, Trainees, and Assistants in a Dental Teaching Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Azab,

Afifi

2024

Background: Sharps injury constitutes one of the major occupational hazards in dental practice with practitioners under training being the most exposed group. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness about sharps injury, its prevalence, and reporting rates among dental students, trainees, and assistants. Methods: The study was conducted at the Dental Teaching Hospital, Umm Al Qura University, Saudi Arabia, through an online self-designed questionnaire which comprised 21 items. Data was collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed. Results: Among 182 responding participants, the mean awareness score was satisfactory in 117 participants (64.3%) and average in 64 (35.2%). Exposure to sharps injury in the last 24 months was reported by 31.3% (n=20) with needle stick injury being the most frequent cause and only 59.6% (n=34) reported the injury. Interns and sixth-year students were the most injured participants. There was a significant difference in knowledge between exposed and non-exposed participants regarding the safe technique of recapping needles (p=0.037). After the injury, 77.2% (n=44) of participants washed their hands with soap and water. Conclusions: A considerable percentage of study participants have average to satisfactory awareness about the risk of sharps injury with a high under-reporting rate. So, comprehensive preclinical education and training must be provided to our hospital’s students, trainees, and assistants to increase awareness about potentially risky behavior. More orientation about reporting and its role in prevention is highly recommended to ensure safe practice and improve the quality of dental care.

“…The data unequivocally shows that dental students need to have a deeper understanding of NSI prevention. It is impossible to exaggerate the significance and requirement of infection prevention and control teaching at dental institutions since it is essential for reducing the likelihood of needlesticks as well as SIs [18][19][20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A research investigation was undertaken to ascertain the level of knowledge and experiences pertaining to NSI among dentistry students enrolled at the University of Nairobi Dentistry Hospital (UONDH). Despite a high level of awareness of the possibility of cross-infection resulting from NSI, there was a notable decline in understanding regarding the methods of prevention and adherence to established protocols [19][20][21][22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Needlestick Injuries Among Dental Students in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Thekkiniyakath Ali,

Alsour,

Almansour

et al. 2023

Introduction: Needlestick injuries (NSIs) represent a significant source of bloodborne viruses in the healthcare sector, particularly in dentistry. Developing effective infection control programs necessitates access to surveillance data. A comprehensive evaluation, encompassing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and serological testing, is crucial due to the potential lack of immediate symptoms in infected patients. It is essential to verify hepatitis B and tetanus immunization statuses and seek guidance from infectious disease experts for post-exposure prophylaxis.Aim and objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of NSIs among dentistry students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods: Conducted during the 2023-2024 academic year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this cross-sectional study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of undergraduate dental medicine students regarding NSIs. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was meticulously collected. Before participation, potential subjects were furnished with a comprehensive information sheet outlining the study's purpose, the survey's nature, expected duration, and potential risks or benefits. The document emphasized their unequivocal right to withdraw from the study at any point without any adverse consequences. Data collection relied on an online survey administered to third and final-year dental students selected from specific universities. This selection criterion ensured that participants were directly relevant to the dental education context under investigation. Careful exclusions were made to minimize potential bias, particularly by excluding students from academic years other than the third and final years, thus maintaining a specific focus on this subgroup. Data analysis primarily compared NSI occurrences and awareness based on dental college and academic year. Detailed findings are presented in the results section.Results: The study unveiled high vaccination rates (95.23%) and significant levels of education regarding bloodborne infections (81.38%) among participants. However, it was noteworthy that 72.72% believed their vaccinations offered complete protection. Only 47.18% believed that wearing surgical gloves reduced the risk of NSIs, while a substantial majority (93.07%) opposed the practice of needle recapping. Moreover, 76.19% demonstrated knowledge of post-exposure prophylaxis, indicating room for improvement in healthcare safety practices. Statistical analysis identified significant associations between the Dental College attended and both NSI occurrence (χ²=12.164, p=0.058) and awareness (χ²=14.629, p=0.023). Conversely, the academic year exhibited no significant relationship with either NSI occurrence (χ²=1.2, p=0.55) or awareness (χ²=0.44, p=0.8). Additionally, the study revealed non-normal distributions for both NSI occurrence (p<0.001) and awareness (p<0.001) among participants. Conclusion:In conclusion, this study underscores the pivotal role...