INVESTIGATING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NURSES' KNOWLEDGE OF NEEDLESTICK INJURIES AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS NSI PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT: CORRELATES OF ATTITUDES

Abstract

Needlestick injuries remain a significant occupational hazard for nurses and other healthcare professionals due to their direct exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). These injuries not only affect the physical and psychological health of nurses but also compromise the safety of the healthcare environment, there is an urgent need for efficient preventative strategies and educational initiatives to lower these risks. The aim of this study was to assess the association of nurses’ knowledge regarding the causes, risk factors and appropriate management of NSI. A quantitative correlational research design was used to find the association between nurse’ knowledge regarding needle stick injuries and their attitude towards its management. The study sample consisted of 51 nurses working in high-risk departments such as emergency wards. A structured questionnaire was administered to evaluate baseline knowledge. All the ethical guidelines were fulfilled using BERA framework. The collected data was analyzed on IBM SPSS version 21. The value of r, r=0.725, p< 0.001 showing that there is a strong significant relationship and strong linear relationship between nurses ‘knowledge of needle stick injury and their management attitude of NSI. The study concluded how mandatory it is to escalate the understanding and knowledge of nurses regarding NSI.