Objective
to analyze accidents with sharp instruments and preventive measures associated with hepatitis B in nursing professionals in emergency and urgency services.
Methods
analytical cross-sectional study applying a questionnaire to 317 nursing professionals from five public hospitals in Teresina, Piauí state, in 2010.
Results
152 (47.9%) reported having suffered sharp instrument accidents; within each category: nurses (27.3%), healthcare assistants (48.2%), nursing assistants (52.6%). The chance of an undergraduate professional (healthcare or nursing assistant) suffering a sharp instrument accident is 2.8 (1.38 to 5.67) times greater than a graduated one (nurse). The needle was the most frequent causative instrument (77.0%). Lack of accident notification was substantial among nursing assistants (67.0%), healthcare assistants (70.0%) and nurses (75.0%), as well as non-adoption of post-exposure prophylactic measures (84.9% on average). The three categories reported gloves as the most used PPE. Healthcare assistants presented the lowest percentage (47.0%) of full vaccination schedule for hepatitis B.
Discussion
a substantial percentage of nursing professionals has suffered sharp instrument accidents at work with low adoption of preventive and prophylactic measures, reinforcing the need for strengthening strategies aimed at improving worker's health within hospitals.
nursing; hepatitis B; occupational health; vaccine