Sharp-device injuries to hospital staff nurses in 4 countries

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Safety
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Sharp-device injuries pose a significant risk to hospital staff nurses globally.
• Understanding international variations in injury rates is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of sharp-device injuries among hospital staff nurses across four Western countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 34,318 acute-care hospital staff nurses in 1998-1999.
• Data collection focused on retrospectively reported needlestick injuries within the previous year.

Main Results:

• Injury rates varied widely, with Germany reporting the highest rate (488 per 1,000 full-time equivalent positions [FTEs]) and the US the lowest (146 per 1,000 FTEs) for medical-surgical nurses.
• Operating room/perioperative nurses in the US and Canada also showed high injury rates (255 and 569 per 1,000 FTEs, respectively).
• Reported use of safety-engineered sharp devices was lower in Germany and Canada compared to the US.

Conclusions:

• While US nurse safety has improved due to safer technologies and regulations, higher rates in Germany may reflect slower adoption of safety devices.
• Wider implementation of safer technologies and stricter occupational safety regulations are recommended to decrease sharp-device injury rates internationally.