title: Effectiveness of Intensive Interactive Classes and Hands on Practice to Increase Awareness about Sharps Injuries and Splashes among Health Care Workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational exposure to sharps and splashes pose a major hazard among health care workers (HCWs); so knowledge and awareness regarding sharps/splashes by blood and potentially infectious body fluids (BBF) is a must. Hence, the study was done to assess the extent of knowledge of the staff and using awareness classes and hands on practice as a model to increase awareness as well as prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective interventional cohort study, using before - after trial, was conducted in a Level I trauma care centre. All cadres of HCWs were enrolled randomly into 5 different groups of 15 each. This study was conducted in 2 phases - interactive classes and hands on practice (Phase I) and questionnaire assessment and work area observation (phase II). This was repeated twice and the final outcome was analysed. A systematic level of grading was used to assess the improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that Group 1 (doctors) and group 2 (nurses) had the maximum knowledge about such exposures and its prevention compared to the other groups (groups 3, 4 and 5) during the initial assessment (Phase I). The remaining groups showed a major improvement after the 2(nd) assessment, though their knowledge was poor in the beginning. Groups 1and 2 showed 32% and remaining groups showed a 25% improvement in voluntary reporting after the second assessment (Phase II).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness classes and hands on practice are indeed useful in generating knowledge about sharps/ splashes. Certain incentives given at right time can improve it further.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research , Puducherry, India .
authors.forename: Nonika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajkumari
authors.affiliation: Additional Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine (Microbiology Division), Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Purva
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Nursing-in-Charge, Hospital Infection Control, Hospital Infection Control Unit, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Jacinta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunjiyal
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Mahesh Chandra
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Misra
keywords: Awareness; Health care workers; Interactive classes; Needlestick injuries; Prophylaxis; Voluntary reporting