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Factors Promoting Consistent Adherence to Safe Needle Precautions Among Hospital Workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Thomas E. Vaughn ,
Kimberly D. McCoy ,
Susan E. Beekmann ,
Robert F. Woolson ,
James C. Torner  and
Bradley N. Doebbeling
Thomas E. Vaughn
Affiliation:
Department of Health Management and Policy, The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
Kimberly D. McCoy
Affiliation:
Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Regenstrief Institute for Health Care, and the Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Susan E. Beekmann
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Robert F. Woolson
Affiliation:
Department of Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
James C. Torner
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
Bradley N. Doebbeling*
Affiliation:
Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Regenstrief Institute for Health Care, and the Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
*
Roudebush VA Medical Center, Health Services Research and Development (11H), 1481 W. 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Abstract

Objective:

To examine organizational factors and occupational characteristics associated with adherence to occupational safety guidelines recommending never recapping needles.

Design:

Mail surveys were conducted with healthcare workers (HCWs) and infection control professionals (ICPs).

Setting:

The surveys were conducted at all non-federal general hospitals in Iowa, except one tertiary-care hospital. Survey data were linked to annual survey data of the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Participants:

HCWs were sampled from statewide rosters of physicians, nurses, and laboratory workers in Iowa. Eligible HCWs worked in a setting and position in which they were likely to routinely handle needles. ICPs at all hospitals in the state were surveyed.

Results:

Ninety-nine ICPs responded (79% response rate). AHA data were available for all variables from 84 (85%) of the hospitals. Analyses were based on 1,454 HCWs who identified one of these hospitals as their primary hospital (70% response rate). Analyses were conducted using multiple logistic regression. Positive predictors of consistent adherence included infection control personnel hours per full-time–equivalent employee (odds ratio [OR], 1.03), frequency of standard precautions education (OR, 1.11), facilities providing personal protective equipment (OR, 1.82), facilities using needleless intravenous systems (OR, 1.42), and management support for safety (OR, 1.05). Negative predictors were use of “blood and body fluid precautions” isolation category (OR, 0.74) and increased job demands (OR, 0.90).

Conclusion:

Healthcare organizations can improve staff safety by investing wisely in educational programs regarding approaches to minimize these risks, providing protective equipment, and eliminating the use of blood and body fluid precautions as an isolation policy.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 25 , Issue 7 , July 2004 , pp. 548 - 555
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2004

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