Adherence to management after occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogen among health care workers in Taiwan.
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.
Ko
Nai-Ying
NY
Department of Nursing and Center of Infection Control, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan. nyko@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Yeh
Shu-Hui
SH
Tsay
Shiow-Luan
SL
Pan
Shung-Mei
SM
Feng
Ming-Chu
MC
Chiang
Ming-Chu
MC
Lee
Yea-Wen
YW
Chang
Ling-Hua
LH
Jang
Jim-Fong
JF
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