Effect of Educational program on Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Occupational Safety Strategies for Controlling Blood-Borne Infection in Pediatric Critical Care Units

Abstract

Background: Blood Borne Pathogens (BBP) pose a significant infectious hazards for nurses, leading to unwanted health consequences and psychological stress. The aim of the study was to measure the effect of educational program on nurses' knowledge and practice regarding occupational safety strategies for controlling blood-borne infection in pediatric critical care units. Research Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Study settings: The study was conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Pediatric Surgical Unit (PSU), and Pediatric Department Unit (PDU) in the children's hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. The research Subject included 60 nurses who were chosen by a simple random sample working in the previously mentioned settings. Tools of the data collection: A predesigned questionnaire sheet, concerned with nurses' characteristics and nurses' knowledge regarding blood-borne diseases (pre & post-test), Observational Checklists were used pre and post educational program fulfillment Results: The findings of the current study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between nurses' knowledge and practice pre and post the educational program fulfillment for controlling blood- borne infection. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the fulfillment of the educational program regarding occupational safety strategies had a significant effect on the improvement of studied nurses' knowledge and practice for controlling the blood-borne infection. Recommendation: It could be recommended that further studies emphasize on fulfillment of educational program regarding occupational safety strategies for controlling blood-borne infection in different pediatric settings