title: Surgeon's satisfaction on the use of invented needle magnet in reducing the risk of sharp injuries in the operating room.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare workers, especially operating room personnel, are at increased risk for sharps injury and transmission of blood-borne pathogens as a result of their occupation. Infection with these pathogens occurs mainly by percutaneous or mucocutaneous exposure to blood-borne pathogens. This study evaluated the effectiveness of using invented needle magnet in reducing the risk of sharp injuries in the operating room.
  
  
  METHODS
  THE NEEDLE MAGNET DEVICE IS CONSISTED OF THREE PARTS: a cap, a magnet and a metal container. It was invented by the authors for the first time in Iran. The average weight of this device is 200 g and it can be easily placed near the surgery field or on the myostand. It has magnetic properties that attracts the sharp pointed particles during surgery and preserve them in a protected space. The device was used in surgical field by 33 surgeons during 90 surgical operations. Then, the satisfaction of participants and effectiveness of the device in protection against sharps injury was evaluated by a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one surgeons (94%) believed that needle magnet reduces dispersion of sharp instruments; 79% of the participants suggested that our device reduces sharps injury during operation; 29 surgeons (88%) intended to use this device during operation. Thus, the use of needle magnet within surgical field may reduce the chances of sharps injury during surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of needle magnet within surgical field reduces the chance of sharp injury during surgery and the surgeons were satisfied with its use.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hashem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rahmati
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Farkhondeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Davarpanah
keywords: Blood-borne pathogens; needle magnet; sharps injury; surgery