Jae Sim Jeong1, Haeng Mi Son1, Ihn Sook Jeong2, Jun Seok Son3, Kyong-sok Shin4, Sung Won Yoonchang5, Hye Young Jin6, Si Hyeon Han7, Su Ha Han8. 1. Department of Nursing, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Republic of Korea. 2. College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jeongis@pusan.ac.kr. 3. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea. 4. Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Nursing, Chungwoon University, Chungnam, Republic of Korea. 6. Department of Infection Control Office, Ajou University Hospital, Suwon, Republic of Korea. 7. Infection Prevention and Control Team, Dankook University Hospital, Cheon-An, Republic of Korea. 8. Infection Prevention and Control Team, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to survey psychologic discomfort and coping processes of health care workers that suffered needlestick injuries (NSIs). METHODS: This qualitative analysis was performed with 15 health care workers who experienced NSIs. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews. The study subjects were asked the following: please describe the psychologic discomfort that you experienced after the NSI incidence. Data were evaluated by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Types of psychologic discomfort after NSI among health care workers included anxiety, anger, and feelings of guilt. Some personnel adopted active coping strategies, such as seeking first aid or reporting the incident to a monitoring system, whereas others used passive coping methods, such as avoidance of reporting the incident, vague expectancy to have no problems, and reliance on religious beliefs. Recommended support strategies to improve the prevention of NSIs were augmenting employee education and increasing recognition of techniques for avoiding NSIs. CONCLUSION: Medical institutions need to provide employees with repeated education so that they are familiar with guidelines for preventing NSIs and to stimulate their alertness to the risk of injuries at any time, in any place, and to anybody.
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to survey psychologic discomfort and coping processes of health care workers that suffered needlestick injuries (NSIs). METHODS: This qualitative analysis was performed with 15 health care workers who experienced NSIs. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews. The study subjects were asked the following: please describe the psychologic discomfort that you experienced after the NSI incidence. Data were evaluated by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Types of psychologic discomfort after NSI among health care workers included anxiety, anger, and feelings of guilt. Some personnel adopted active coping strategies, such as seeking first aid or reporting the incident to a monitoring system, whereas others used passive coping methods, such as avoidance of reporting the incident, vague expectancy to have no problems, and reliance on religious beliefs. Recommended support strategies to improve the prevention of NSIs were augmenting employee education and increasing recognition of techniques for avoiding NSIs. CONCLUSION: Medical institutions need to provide employees with repeated education so that they are familiar with guidelines for preventing NSIs and to stimulate their alertness to the risk of injuries at any time, in any place, and to anybody.