[Application and evaluation of a web-based education program on blood-borne infection control for nurses].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a web-based program on blood-borne infection control and to examine the effect of the newly developed program on perceived threat of diseases, knowledge, preventive health behaviors for blood-borne infections, and incidence rates of accidental needle sticks and other sharp object injuries in nurses.


METHODS
The program was developed through the processes of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The research design involved a nonequivalent control group for pretest and posttest experiments. The setting was a 745-bed general hospital located in Korea.


RESULTS
The program was designed and developed after consulting previous studies. After development of the program was completed, it was evaluated and revised by a panel of experts. The total score for perceived threat of diseases, knowledge, preventive health behaviors in the experimental group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p<.05). The incidence rates for needle sticks and other sharp object injuries in the experimental group were significantly lower compared to the control group (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Application of a Web-based, blood-borne infection control program is effective, and can be expanded to other healthcare workers who also have a high risk of blood-borne infections.
Department of Nursing Science, Konyang University, Daejeon, Korea. jschoi408@empal.com
Jeong Sil
JS
Choi
Keum Soon
KS
Kim
D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D016602:Needlestick Injuries; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires