Needlestick and sharps injuries among a cross-section of physicians in Mainland China.
BACKGROUND
Although needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI) represent a significant occupational hazard for physicians worldwide, their epidemiology has not been previously examined in Mainland China. This study describes the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors for NSI among a cross-section of Chinese physicians.


METHODS
Data was obtained by an anonymous, self-reporting survey administered to all 361 physicians at a university teaching hospital, during 2004.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine percent of the physicians responded. Among them, 64% had experienced an NSI in the previous 12 months, 50.3% of which involved contaminated devices. By device, 22.8% were caused by hollow-bore syringe needles, 19.1% by suture needles, and 12.1% by scalpel blades. Surgical procedures accounted for 27.9% of all injuries. Only 15.3% of physicians had officially reported their NSI to management, of which 10% went unreported because the individual felt they were not unlucky enough to get a disease. A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between NSI and working in the intensive care unit (adjusted odds ratio: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.7-23.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Although this study suggests that NSI are an important workplace hazard for Chinese physicians, future measures should consider the unique cultural beliefs of Chinese people and its effect on preventive behaviors. The concept of "luck," and its relationship with NSI reporting in particular, may also need to be addressed.
Smith
Derek R
DR
Department of Hazard Assessment, National Institute of Industrial Health, 6-21-1 Nagao, Tama-Ku, Kawasaki 215-8585, Japan.
Wei
Ning
N
Zhang
Yi-Jie
YJ
Wang
Rui-Sheng
RS
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires