title: Adherence to management after occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogen among health care workers in Taiwan.
abstract: The study purpose was to investigate the adherence to postexposure management of health care workers (HCWs) in Taiwan. A total of 685 HCWs of 1164 HCWs who had reported exposure incidents during 2003-2005 completed questionnaires. Only 33% of the 567 exposed HCWs adhered to the postexposure management. Adherence was associated with percutaneous injury and knowledge of the seropositive status of source patients. Regular follow-ups for seroconversion testing are essential to improving the quality of postexposure management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Center of Infection Control, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan. nyko@mail.ncku.edu.tw
authors.forename: Nai-Ying
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Shu-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Shiow-Luan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tsay
authors.forename: Shung-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ming-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ming-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Yea-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ling-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jim-Fong
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan