Percutaneous injuries on the "front line": a survey of housestaff and nurses

Our objective was to assess the frequency of work-related percutaneous injuries in two high-risk groups and to compare patterns of injury and reporting in these groups. Data were collected through an anonymous, self-administered survey distributed to all full-time nurses and housestaff. The survey results were compared to Employee Health Service records. Surveys were returned by 258 of 330 housestaff and 455 of 593 nurses for a response rate of 77% (housestaff = 78%; nurses = 76%). The respondents were highly representative of the nursing divisions and residency programs surveyed. The percentage of nurses who had ever sustained percutaneous injuries was 64.7%; for housestaff it was 74.1% (prevalence difference = -9.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -16.4%, -2.4%). The percentage of nurses who had sustained recent injuries was 34.6%; for housestaff it was 43.0% (prevalence difference = -8.4%, 95% CI = -15.9%, -0.9%). Injuries with syringe needles were the most common, followed by injuries with suture needles, scalpels, and then a variety of other sharp objects and instruments. The nurses were more likely to seek care as directed by hospital policy at the Employee Health Service (reporting difference = 29.7%, 95% CI = 19.5%, 39.9%) or the Emergency Room (reporting difference = 11.9%, 95% CI = 8.1%, 20.0%). Knowledge of policy increased the probability of reporting by nurses. The housestaff were more likely to evaluate injuries themselves (reporting difference = -16.7%, 95% CI = -26.8%, -6.6%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)