title: Sharps injury recordkeeping activities and safety product use in California health care facilities: pilot study results from the sharps injury control program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1999, licensed health care facilities in California (N = 2532) were invited to participate in a survey about occupational bloodborne pathogens exposure surveillance activities, recordkeeping methods, and use of safety-enhanced sharps devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1274 facilities responded to the survey from January 1999 through August 1999 (response rate = 50%). Sharps-related injuries were recorded for multiple departments on various forms in diverse manners. Only 66% of hospitals, 37% of home health agencies, and 33% of skilled nursing facilities reported sharps injuries on a mandated sharps injury log. More than 70% of facilities stated that they used some type of safety device or needleless system, but this figure varied by type of device and facility type. Eighty-four percent of general acute care hospitals, 28% of home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities each had evaluated at least 1 safety-enhanced device. Almost 90% of all facilities expressed a need for educational materials on topics such as device selection and evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardization of surveillance and recordkeeping activities does not exist across facility types. Standards and regulations demand complex recordkeeping activities. Increased funding for distribution of educational materials and on-site training should accompany changes in mandated reporting activities when appropriate. Increased testing and evaluation of devices across facility types are necessary to ensure that safety-enhanced devices are protective of health care workers and patients.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, 94143-0608, USA.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gillen
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNary
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Julieann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cone
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D018574:Home Care Agencies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012042:Registries; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control