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Knowledge and Practices of Healthcare Workers in Relation to Bloodborne Pathogens in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Western Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

To assess knowledge and practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) in relation to bloodborne pathogens in a tertiary care hospital, western Saudi Arabia. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge and practices of physicians, nurses and technicians on risks of exposure and prophylaxis against human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections. A total of 466 participants (151; 32.4 % physicians and 315; 67.6 % nurses/technicians) completed the questionnaire. Almost two thirds of the physicians (60.9 %) and half of the nurses/technicians (47.6 %) had history of exposure to risks of bloodborne infection. Although both physicians and nurses/technicians showed acceptable level of knowledge about risks of bloodborne infections, modest proportion knew the correct actions including reporting following exposure. Behavioral-based in-service training interventions and strict policy should be implemented to promote compliance of HCWs to the protective measures against hazards of bloodborne infection.

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Ethical standards

This study has been approved by the research and ethics committee, Armed Forces hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia and has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Family Medicine Department, Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Ali O. Al-Zahrani & Elham N. Zolaly

  2. Infection Prevention and Control Department, King AbdulAziz Medical City, PO Box 9515, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Fayssal Farahat

  3. King Saud bin AbdulAziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Fayssal Farahat

  4. Community Medicine and Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt

    Fayssal Farahat

Authors
  1. Ali O. Al-Zahrani
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  2. Fayssal Farahat
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  3. Elham N. Zolaly
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Correspondence to Fayssal Farahat.

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Al-Zahrani, A.O., Farahat, F. & Zolaly, E.N. Knowledge and Practices of Healthcare Workers in Relation to Bloodborne Pathogens in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Western Saudi Arabia. J Community Health 39, 959–964 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9837-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9837-7

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