Health workers’ compliance to the monitoring protocol after exposure to biological fluids: a problem experienced in an outpatient clinic at the worker’s hospital in Paraná

Authors

  • Leila Maria Mansano Sarquis
  • Vanda Elisa Andres Felli
  • Fernanda Moura D’Almeida Miranda
  • Hermman Valentin Guimarães
  • Giordano Pedro de Oliveira

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/ce.v10i2.4998

Keywords:

Acidentes de trabalho, Saúde ocupacional, Exposição ocupacional, Work accidents, Occupational monitoring, Accidentes de Trabajo, Monitorización Ocupacional

Abstract

Epidemiological research, cohort study with a quantitative approach, which objectified: characterize the health workers profile injured with biological fluids and to analyze their compliance to the established protocol by returning to the outpatient clinic for consultation after exposure. The study field was The Workers Outpatient Clinic at The Workers Hospital from Federal University of Paraná located in the city of Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. Four hundred and ninety-one (491) records were analyzed fromApril to December/ 2004. Data were collected through follow-up records of accidents with biological material and through the emergency reports from the Emergency ward of this institution. Data analysis evidenced that the most subjects were female (80.4%), average age between 21 to 25 years (25.8%). The nursing practitioners were the most incident category (46%), followed by janitors in health units (12%). From those 491 records of the EmergencyWard for working place exposure to biological fluids, only 175 (35.6%) of the workers returned to their second appointment, after 30 days of the accident; 103 (21%) for the previously- fixed appointment after 90 days, and only 50 (10.2%) workers completed the follow-up and monitoring in the clinic. The accidents mostly happened due to contact with sharp- pointed instruments (88.6%). Just a small sample (11.4%) had eye membrane spills of biological fluids.We believe this can be a thought-provoking study for health managers and professionals to work out strategies to minimize health workers risk exposure as well as to maximize institutional resources in order to fully monitor them when exposed to biological fluids.

How to Cite

Sarquis, L. M. M., Felli, V. E. A., Miranda, F. M. D., Guimarães, H. V., & de Oliveira, G. P. (2005). Health workers’ compliance to the monitoring protocol after exposure to biological fluids: a problem experienced in an outpatient clinic at the worker’s hospital in Paraná. Cogitare Enfermagem, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/ce.v10i2.4998

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE