Nurse’s Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding Needle Stick Injury Working in Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Needle-stick injuries form one of the important occupational hazards in healthcare workers, especially nurses, who frequently handle sharp instruments. NSIs promote the transmission of blood borne pathogens like HBV, HCV, and HIV. Inadequate knowledge, unsafe practices, underreporting, and inconsistent adherence to infection-control guidelines further amplify the vulnerability among nursing staff.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and practices related to NSIs among nurses at Arif Memorial Teaching Hospital, Lahore, and factors that influence adherence to safety protocols.

Methods: Researchers conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample size of 150 registered nurses, selected through convenient random sampling. Data collection was done using a validated structured questionnaire, containing demographic variables, 12 knowledge items, and 13 attitude/practice items rated on a five-point Likert scale. Knowledge and practice were categorized into three groups, such as inadequate, moderately adequate, and adequate. Ethical approval and consent were obtained.

Results: The results showed that 89.1% of participants had good knowledge of needle stick injuries, while attitudes were largely positive across most items. However, practice levels were comparatively lower, with only 46% demonstrating good or excellent practice. Overall, the KAP findings reveal strong knowledge and attitudes but highlight gaps in practice that warrant targeted training and reinforcement.

Conclusion: While nurses demonstrated satisfactory awareness overall, remaining gaps in knowledge and practice indicate that specific training, better reporting mechanisms, and implementations of infection-control policies are necessary to lower the risk of NSI and improve occupational safety.