Effectiveness of education and problem solving work group on nursing practices to prevent needlestick and sharp injury.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of an education program and problem solving work group on nursing practices for prevention of needlestick and sharp injury. MATERIAL AND METHOD A quasi-experimental study design with a control group was conducted at the emergency 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.