Provider knowledge and performance in medication injection safety in anesthesia: A mixed method prospective crosses...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality and safety
• Anesthesiology
• Infection control

Background:

• Injection safety is a critical healthcare challenge, particularly during anesthesia.
• Anesthesia involves intensive medication use, making safe injection practices essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess medication injection safety practices in an Iranian teaching hospital's operating rooms.
• To evaluate adherence to safety protocols among anesthesia providers.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cross-sectional study conducted in a 500-bed teaching hospital.
• Data collection via observation of 345 injections and 82 questionnaires.
• Statistical analysis using Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests.

Main Results:

• Observed adherence to injection safety requirements was 58.5%.
• Significant differences in observed safety practices were noted between operating room groups, age, and work experience.
• Staff reported acceptable adherence but actual practices were often unsafe.

Conclusions:

• While some safe injection procedures were followed, others require improvement.
• There is a discrepancy between reported adherence and observed injection safety practices.
• Recommendations include implementing audits, providing safer supplies, and ensuring complete Hepatitis B vaccination for injection providers.