CHARACTERISTICS OF SHARP INJURIES AND FLUID SPLASH AMONG HEALTHCARE CARE WORKERS IN THE WEST BANK "PALESTINE"

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dc.contributor.authorMahmoud, Aashraf Deeb
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-02T10:51:30Z
dc.date.available2025-10-02T10:51:30Z
dc.date.issued2025-09-09
dc.description.abstractBackground: Sharp injuries and fluid splash exposures (SISE) are major occupational hazards for healthcare workers (HCWs), increasing the risk of transmitting bloodborne pathogens. Despite the widespread occurrence of these incidents worldwide, data from Palestine remain limited. The study aimed to determine characterize and risk factors sharp injuries and fluid splash exposures among healthcare workers in the West Bank, Palestine. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed. On the one hand, reviewed injury register records from 2019 to 2024 in five major tertiary hospitals, identifying 452 documented cases of sharp injuries and fluid splash exposures. On the other hand, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2024 among HCWs in the same institutions completing a structured questionnaire assessing the frequency, circumstances, and outcomes of sharp injuries and fluid splash exposures, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices. Descriptive and analytical data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 21. A level of significance of 5% was used. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at An-Najah National University. Results: A total of 452 sharp injury and splash exposure cases were identified in the reviewed incident report. Nurses accounted for the majority of incidents (53.8%), with most events occurring during morning shifts (71.3%) and in patient rooms (74.8%). Needles were the most common cause of sharp injuries, while blood was the sole fluid in splash exposures. Among 473 surveyed HCWs, 52.9% reported at least one sharp injury, and 45.3% reported at least one fluid splash exposure during their careers. Notably, 51.4% of those with sharp injuries also experienced fluid splashes. Underreporting was prevalent: 80% of unreported cases were attributed to the perceived lack of seriousness. Hepatitis B vaccination coverage was suboptimal, and only 62.8% adhered to recommended post-exposure protocols. Although 92% reported using personal protective equipment (PPE), gaps in training and compliance were observed. Significant associations were found between SISE occurrence and job category, department, and shift timing (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Sharp injuries and fluid splash exposures are frequent among HCWs in West Bank hospitals, particularly during routine procedures such as intravenous access and blood draws. Despite widespread use of personal protective equipment, gaps in vaccination coverage and post-exposure management persist. Enhanced preventive strategies, improved reporting systems, and targeted training are urgently needed to mitigate occupational risks and protect healthcare personnel.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/20463
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAn-Najah National University
dc.supervisorBasma, Damiri
dc.supervisorSouad, Belkebir
dc.titleCHARACTERISTICS OF SHARP INJURIES AND FLUID SPLASH AMONG HEALTHCARE CARE WORKERS IN THE WEST BANK "PALESTINE"
dc.title.alternativeسمة الإصابات الحادة ورذاذ السوائل لدى العاملين في مجال الرعاية الصحية في الضفة الغربية
dc.typeThesis
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