Factors associated with physicians' behaviours to prevent needlestick and sharp injuries.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Medical Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSIs) are a significant occupational hazard for physicians, posing risks of blood-borne pathogen transmission.
• Limited research exists on physician behaviors specifically aimed at preventing NSIs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of safety climate, job demands, and self-efficacy on physicians' NSI prevention behaviors.
• To understand the interplay between these factors in shaping preventative actions.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous survey distributed to 401 physicians across four teaching hospitals in Northern Taiwan.
• 189 completed surveys were returned, yielding a response rate of 47.1%.

Main Results:

• Physicians reported frequent engagement in NSI prevention behaviors.
• A positive correlation was found between safety climate and NSI prevention behaviors (r=0.22).
• Physician self-efficacy strongly correlated with NSI prevention behaviors (r=0.33).
• High self-efficacy predicted consistent NSI prevention regardless of job demand.
• Low self-efficacy led to increased NSI prevention under high job demands.

Conclusions:

• Safety climate, job demands, and self-efficacy are critical determinants of physicians' NSI prevention behaviors.
• Hospitals should enhance safety climate, manage job demands, and bolster physician self-efficacy through training and support.
• Interventions should focus on improving hospital safety culture and empowering physicians to manage their work environment effectively.