Effectiveness of Education and Problem Solving Work Group on Nursing Practices to Prevent Needlestick and Sharp Injury
Jantila Srikrajang MNS*, Chomnard Pochamarn MSc**, Jittaporn Chittreecheur MSc**, Anucha Apisarnthanarak MD***, Somwang Danchaivijitr MD****
Affiliation : *Sermngarm Hospital, Lampang, **Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ***Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasart University, Pathum Thani, ****Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Objectives : To examine the effect of an education program and problem solving work group on nursing
practices for prevention of needlestick and sharp injury.
Materials and Methods : A quasi-experimental study design with a control group was conducted at the emer-
gency and labor rooms in Sermngam Hospital, Lampang. All healthcare workers (HCWs) in the emergency
and labor room were randomly assigned to the experimental and control group from April 17, 2002 to
September 3, 2002. Data collection included demographics, a participatory problem solving plan, and safety
nursing practice observation recording form. The present study was divided into a two months observation
period, followed by a one month intervention period and a two month post-intervention observation period.
Interventions included education and posters to promote safe nursing practices, peer reminders to avoid
unsafe nursing practices, providing devices for recapping needles and small-sized trays to facilitate one-
handed recapping, and making a hole in the lid of a sharp container. Nursing practices on prevention of
needlestick and sharp injury were prospectively monitored.
Results : Twelve HCWs (12/24; 50%) were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 12 (12/24; 50%)
were assigned to the control group. There was no difference with respects to demographic and safety nursing
practices on prevention of needlestick and sharp injury during the pre-interventional period among these
groups. Compared to the pre-interventional period, significant improvement on safety nursing practices for
all nursing practice categories were observed in the experimental group after the intervention (P=0.001).
Compared to the control group, all safety nursing practice categories were performed more often in the
experimental group (p=0.001).
Conclusion : The educational and problem solving work group on nursing practices to prevent needlestick
and sharp injury were effective and should be considered as an intervention to reduce needlestick and sharp
injury in emergency and labor rooms at Sermngarm Hospital.
Keywords : Education, Problem solving work group, Needlestick injury, Sharp injury, Prevention, Occupa- tional health
