The research study was conducted at a 635 bed rural Northeast Mississippi Hospital. The voluntary participants were 61 healthcare workers (HCWs) who previously had an occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens and who did not utilize personal protective equipment (PPE). The questionnaire evaluated their knowledge concerning blood-borne pathogens and their use of universal precautions. Despite a mean score of 90.9 on the knowledge portion of the questionnaire, only 61% (n=37) of the participants responded that they consistently use personal protective equipment when caring for patients. Only 34% (n=21) of these healthcare workers viewed their co-workers as using personal protective equipment consistently and 55% (n=33) of the participants viewed their co-workers as using personal protective equipment frequently. The findings of this study revealed that 72% (n=55) of the healthcare workers who participated in the study had treated patients with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) within the past 12 months. The study findings also indicated that educational programs continue to be needed to address the consequences of noncompliance with the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) ruling concerning universal precautions (UPs) and risk taking behaviors. In addition, health care agencies need to examine the accessibility of personal protective equipment to best meet the safety needs of healthcare workers.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Discuss why healthcare workers do not routinely utilize universal precautions. 2. Identify resources to improve the compliance rate of universal precautions utilized by healthcare workers. 3. Develop new strategies in disseminating health education information about universal precautions to healthcare workers.
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.