Assessment of the Safety Measures Adopted By Healthcare Workers in DHQ Hospital Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction: Health Care personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, HBV,   HCV, and HIV. Exposure occurs through needle sticks or cuts from sharp instruments,   contaminated with an infected patient’s blood or through contacts of the eye, nose, mouth or skin with the patient’s blood. The purpose of the study is to safely use personal protective instruments (PPE), training regarding safety at work and to recommend ways for improvement of work.  Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the Safety Measures adopted by Healthcare Workers in DHQ Hospital Faisalabad. The place of study was Surgical Unit-IV and Medical   Unit-IV from the 5th of July 2010 to the 18th of July 2010. 59 Healthcare workers (Doctors:15;   Nurses:22; Ward Workers:22) were interviewed through questionnaires and selected by non- probable convenient sampling. Results: The result is that among healthcare workers only 55% were using safety measures in different ways whether in the form of gloves, by sterilization of instruments, by maintaining hand hygiene, by segregation of infectious material, etc. Conclusion: It is concluded that training regarding the safety measures application should be given to the healthcare workers and Personal Protective Equipment should be available to them for their occupational health and safety.