Needlestick Occurrences and Reporting Among Residents in the Operative Setting.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Medical Education
• Surgical Safety

Background:

• Needlestick and sharps injuries are prevalent occupational hazards for healthcare professionals.
• Operating room residents face unique risks for these injuries.
• Understanding injury patterns and reporting barriers is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of needlestick/sharps injuries among operating room residents.
• To identify factors contributing to these injuries.
• To explore barriers to reporting injuries and seeking treatment.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 168 residents across anesthesiology, surgery, and surgical subspecialties.
• 138 residents responded, yielding an 82% response rate.
• Survey data were analyzed to identify significant differences between departments.

Main Results:

• 49% of residents reported at least one needlestick injury during their training.
• 25% of injuries were not reported to employee health or treated.
• Lack of time for patient care and underestimation of injury severity were primary reporting barriers.
• Fatigue was cited as a contributing factor by 64% of anesthesiology residents reporting an injury.

Conclusions:

• Approximately half of residents sustain injuries, with a significant portion unreported.
• Time constraints and perceived injury severity impede reporting.
• Fatigue is a notable factor for anesthesiology residents, suggesting program-specific risks.
• Addressing reporting barriers and understanding incidence are vital for resident safety and injury prevention.