title: Association of the dominant hand and needle stick injuries for healthcare workers in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare workers face the risk of acquiring blood-borne infections from patients through needle stick injuries. Understanding the factors that are associated with increased risk, for example, the role of the dominant hand, is important so that preventive measures can be focused.
  
  
  METHODS
  The EPINet (Exposure Prevention, Information Network--a trade mark of Virginia University) questionnaire was used to collect the data. The EPInet system started 2003 in Taiwan under C-MESH. When healthcare workers sustain sharp injury, they complete the injury report form, and report to infection control personnel, who then transmitted the data to EPINet website monthly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  93.5% of the healthcare workers reported being right handed and only 6.5% reported being left handed. About two-thirds (65%) of the reported injuries were by self, 30% injuries were by others and 5% were reported as injured by unknown.There was an association between the dominant hand injury and the needle stick original HCW user, p<0.0001. There is a significant difference between the dominant hand and the needlestick original HCW user. HCW whose dominant hand was the right hand were most likely at risk to be injured by "others" than "self" or "unknown HCW"; OR≤ 18.39; CI (0.42 ± 2.33).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Needlestick injuries among health care workers in Taiwan continue to pose a serious occupational problem. Historically, prevention has focused on the use of protective wear than assessment of which hand may be at greater risk than the other. There is a greater need to prevent hand injuries as the dominant hand remains the most used and injured in process of patient care.
authors: University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing, Private Bag 1 Lilongwe. Malawi.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Mbirimtengerenji
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Schaio
authors: L Y
authors: LY
authors: Guo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Muula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
references: Nursing. 2005 Jun;35(6):17
references: 15931092
references: J Infect Dis. 1999 Feb;179(2):442-8
references: 9878029
references: AORN J. 1998 May;67(5):979-81, 983-4, 986-7 passim
references: 9592605
references: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1996 Sep;17(9):573-5
references: 8880228
references: Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2004 May;35(3):376-8
references: 15181841
references: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2000 Dec;21(12):780-5
references: 11140914
references: J Adv Nurs. 2003 Jan;41(2):187-94
references: 12519278
references: Online J Issues Nurs. 2004 Sep 30;9(3):5
references: 15482091
references: Am J Public Health. 2002 Jul;92(7):1115-9
references: 12084694
references: Occup Med (Lond). 1995 Oct;45(5):273-5
references: 7579304
references: Epidemiol Infect. 1999 Apr;122(2):259-65
references: 10355790
references: Nursing. 2005 Aug;35(8):17
references: 16062114
references: Am J Infect Control. 2002 Feb;30(1):15-20
references: 11852411
references: Nursing. 2005 Oct;35(10):74-6
references: 16205283
references: Am J Infect Control. 1999 Jun;27(3):254-7
references: 10358228
references: Commun Dis Public Health. 2000 Sep;3(3):217-8
references: 11014041
references: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1997 Jan 17;46(2):21-5
references: 9011778
references: Jt Comm J Qual Improv. 2002 Jul;28(7):410-4
references: 12101553