Needlestick injuries among obstetrician-gynecologist trainees: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices

INTRODUCTION: Needlestick injury is a major healthcare hazard. The burden of the problem is difficult to estimate due to underreporting by healthcare workers. OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into the level of knowledge and perception, attitude and practices of obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) residents and subspecialty fellows-in-training in a tertiary hospital on blood-borne diseases from needle stick injuries and postexposure prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study among all residents and fellows in training of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary hospital was conducted in December 2017. The explanatory sequential mixed method approach of data collection was utilized using a self-administered original pilot-tested questionnaire and focused group discussion. RESULTS: Eighty-four OB-GYN s in training took part in the study. The prevalence of needle stick injury was 80.95%, but only about half of the incidents were reported. There was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge and attitudes toward management and policies on needlestick injuries between fellows and residents. The fellows appeared to be more frequently compliant with practices to prevent and manage needle stick injuries compared to the residents. There is weak but statistically significant positive relationship between the respondents’ knowledge and practice scores. CONCLUSIONS: Although the respondents have very good knowledge, adherence to the practices to prevent and manage needlestick injuries is low.