title: Needlestick injuries in a healthcare setting in New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to quantify the extent of needlestick underreporting, to examine factors which may contribute to underreporting, and to optimise the relevant risk management strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 11-item structured postal questionnaire was adapted from an existing CDC design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey results showed that 9% of respondents had experienced at least one needlestick injury in the past year, and three practitioners had five or more injuries in the same period. The overall underreporting rate for needlestick injuries was 33%, which is consistent with internationally-reported figures. More than one in six respondent doctors (17.8%) had sustained one or more needlestick injuries in the past year, compared with nurses (7.6%) or midwives (6.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey identified the level of underreporting and the factors that influence needlestick reporting. This has resulted in a series of recommendations that will help our DHB to formulate an appropriate strategy to manage needlestick incidence and impact.
authors.affiliation: Waikato District Health Board, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand. Marie.Fullerton@waikatodhb.health.nz
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gibbons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult