197592 Predictors of negative attitudes towards patients with potential bloodborne-virus-carrier status among hospital workers who had experienced needlestick injuries in Lao PDR

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Chieko Matsubara , School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Kayako Sakisaka , School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Ali Moazzam , School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Alongkone Phengsavanh , Faculty of Medical Science, University of Health Science, Vientiane Capital, Laos
Chushi Kuroiwa , School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Background: Previous papers have reported the emotional impact and negative attitudes exhibited towards patients with potential bloodborne-virus-carrier status among hospital workers with a previous needlestick injury. This study identifies specific predictors for NA-HW-NSI in a developing country.

Method: We conducted a structured questionnaire cross-sectional study of hospital workers at four hospitals in Vientiane, Lao PDR, in 2006. Information was collected on workers' socio-demographics, needlestick injury (NSI) incidence, workers' universal precautions-related awareness and practices, infection control, and post-exposure prophylaxis. Attitudes towards patients were assessed (on a 5-point Likert scale) by responses to the question “Do you treat all patients as if they are carriers of potential bloodborne viruses?”

Results: Among 704 hospital workers, 347 (49%) had experienced an NSI. Of these 347, 210 (61%) had a measurably negative attitude towards patients with potential bloodborne-virus-carrier status. Multiple logistic regression (Backward, Wald, Cox & Snell R square =.146) identified several important predictors: knowledge of bloodborne diseases' causes and names (OR=1.82, 95%CI=1.46-2.27), awareness of the hospital's NSI reporting system (OR=0.60, 95%CI=0.36-1.00), availability of satisfactory protective equipment (OR=0.53, 95%CI=0.30-0.92) and intention to swab the injury with disinfectant (OR=0.41, 95%CI=0.22-0.79). The strongest predictor was knowledge of bloodborne diseases' causes and names. Workplace efforts to provide NSI prevention were negative predictors.

Conclusion: Negative attitudes exhibited towards patients with potential bloodborne-virus-carrier status among hospital workers with a previous needlestick injury are frequent. Additional studies are needed to assess the impact of NSI. Further workplace improvements are needed in developing countries.

Learning Objectives:
To identify predictors of and measure negative attitudes towards patients with potential bloodborne-virus-carrier status among hospital workers who had experienced needlestick injuries, and to propose practices.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Workplace Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I participate in planning, funding, coordinating, going to field work, analyzing and writing.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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