EXPLORING KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES REGARDING NEEDLE STICK INJURIES AMONG NURSES IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Nurses are particularly vulnerable to needle stick injuries (NSIs), which can spread blood-borne illnesses like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. In addition to endangering healthcare professionals' physical and mental wellbeing, these injuries also affect patient safety. The purpose of this study is to evaluate NSI prevalence, causes, and awareness in order to encourage a safety-conscious culture in healthcare settings. Objective: To evaluate nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices around needle stick injuries in tertiary care hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 nurses working in tertiary care hospitals of Karachi using a pretested questionnaire on needle stick injuries. Informed written consent was obtained, aiming to assess nurses' knowledge and practices regarding NSIs. Results: This study shows only 47.8% of participants received training on preventing needlestick injuries, and 54.3% were not aware of hospital waste disposal rules. Furthermore, a needlestick injury occurred in 32.6% of cases, primarily as a result of personal negligence (34.8%) and inadequate needle disposal (17.4%). Conclusion: Study highlights serious shortcomings in nurses' NSI-related practices, urging stronger institutional support, rigorous policy enforcement, and better training to guarantee workplace safety.