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Behaviors and Attitudes of Polish Health Care Workers with Respect to the Hazards from Blood-Borne Pathogens: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Garus-Pakowska

    (Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion; Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland)

  • Mariusz Górajski

    (Department of Econometrics, University of Lodz, 90-214 Lodz, Poland)

Abstract

Blood-borne infections represent an important occupational health issue in health care settings. The aim of this study was to analyze behaviors of health care workers (HCWs) in the field of needlestick injuries (NSIs) as well as to learn about their attitudes to patients infected with blood-borne viruses. A total of 487 HCWs based at 26 hospitals in Poland completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire in the period of October–December 2015. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Of the HCWs, 44.8% suffered superficial wounds, and 17.9% HCWs were cut deeply at least once. The most frequent causes of injuries were: rush (31.4%), unpredictable patient behavior (29%), and lack of attention (27%). The rate of underreporting NSIs was 45.2%. Males showed more than three times higher chance of not reporting injuries (odds ratio (OR) 3.495, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.65–7.49). The nurses more often took off their protective gloves to make the procedure easier ( p = 0.036). Taking off protective clothes was positively associated with long work experience (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 0.995–1.36). Recapping concerned 15.5% of doctors, 8.2% of nurses, and 11.2% of paramedics. 25.9% HCWs feared infection in the workplace, and every tenth HCW refused to help the infected patient. The longer the work experience, the greater the concern about the possibility of infection (OR 1.33, 95% CI: 0.99–1.78). Most HCWs were more cautious when dealing with an infected patient and in their opinion infected patients should be required to inform HCWs of their serological status and such information should be compulsorily transferred between different health institutions. The emphasis in the training of HCWs in the future should be on classes perfecting practical skills like paying more attention to reporting NSIs, improving occupational behaviors like avoiding needle recapping, and on the development of appropriate attitudes towards patients infected with HIV, HBV, or HCV.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Garus-Pakowska & Mariusz Górajski, 2019. "Behaviors and Attitudes of Polish Health Care Workers with Respect to the Hazards from Blood-Borne Pathogens: A Questionnaire-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:5:p:891-:d:212974
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    2. Marta Wałaszek & Małgorzata Kołpa & Zdzisław Wolak & Anna Różańska & Jadwiga Wójkowska-Mach, 2017. "Poor Hand Hygiene Procedure Compliance among Polish Medical Students and Physicians—The Result of an Ineffective Education Basis or the Impact of Organizational Culture?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Anna Garus-Pakowska & Mariusz Górajski & Franciszek Szatko, 2017. "Awareness of the Risk of Exposure to Infectious Material and the Behaviors of Polish Paramedics with Respect to the Hazards from Blood-Borne Pathogens—A Nationwide Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-9, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan José Tejada-Pérez & María Renée Herrera-Burgos & Tesifón Parrón-Carreño & Raquel Alarcón-Rodríguez, 2022. "Biohazard Accidents, Harmful Elements to the Wellness of Healthcare Workers, and Their Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-10, October.
    2. Daifang Wang & Yan Ye & Qiang Zheng, 2020. "Cost of Blood and Body Fluid Occupational Exposure Management in Beijing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-12, June.

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