The research of risk of surgical staff's injuries with surgical insruments in the operating room and factors which influence it

SUMMARYThis descriptive study aims to determine the Surgical Staff?s frequencyof being injured by the surgical tools, the factors that lead to these injuries,prevention techniques and applications after injuries. The research wascarried out at Afyon Kocatepe University Ahmet Necdet SEZER Applicationand Research Hospital.Between April 1st, 2005 and June 3st, 2005, 150 out of 500 operationswere monitored and during these operations, which were choosen in numberfairly according to their proportions, a total number of 36 personal injuriestook place. The items in the questionnaire, which were prepared by theresearcher by going over some resources, were directed to 58 physicians,24 nurses and 8 cleaners.During the process of analysing the data gathered arithmetical mean,frequency analysis and for the comparison of the groups, chi-square testwere used. The reliability coefficient was found out to be = 0.05. Accordingto the results of this survey:— 68 out of 90 surgical staff stated that they had experienced personalinjuries regarding their profession.— The most number of injuries were stated by the staff of general surgerywhich was followed by orthopedy and brain surgery departmentsrespectively.— The most number of injuries were due to the transfixing or penetratingtools. Half of the number of physicians stated that they had been injured asthey were suturing and it was found out that the nurses had injuredthemselves as they were passing on the syringes or tools carelessly withoutfollowing the appropriate techniques. The cleaners, on the other hand, hadbeen injured mostly as they were handling the waste materials.— However a small number of the participants, had reported their injuries.The reason why the physicians and the nurses hadn?t reported was mostlythat they knew the patients? low-risk status. Apart from this, the cleanersstated that reporting was to no avail.— 37 % of the nurses and cleaners were not vaccinated for Hepatit B. Thereason why half of the nurses in this group ignore was that they had not gottime for it whereas the cleaners stated that the procedure was tough.- It was found out that half of the number of nurses had wrong informationregarding the vaccination of Hepatit B.— The staff who ignores the prevention techniques stated their excuse ashaving lack of materials and the feeling of discomfort while using them.— It was found out that the frequency level of the injuries increases onconditions that the duration of the operation is over 3 hours, that it is anurgent case, that the operation is in the evening and that there are too manypeople in the surgery.— It was also found out that the frequency level of the injuries increases dueto inadequate sleep, being tired, being hungry and stress during theoperation. In addition it was observed that inadequate fresh air in the roomand the short duration of the breaks or having breaks at inappropriate placesalso increase the frequency level of the personal injuries.