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Independent Study Results Show Need
for Improvement of Infection Control Products
In May 2006, an independent online study
was performed by the Atlanta-based Arketi Group and sponsored by
Inviro Medical in order to assess the opinions of those in the
infection control arena regarding needlestick injuries and the
available infection control products that aim to prevent them.
This is an important issue facing the medical industry;
according to a recent article in Infection Control Today,
“healthcare workers sustain between 600,000 and one million
injuries from conventional needles and sharps annually.”
The 2006 Study of Needlestick Injuries and
Safety Devices polled 147 directors of infection control (DICs)
and 188 nurses in two phases and asked questions revolving
around four main areas. The results of this study highlighted
the concerns these two groups continue to have despite six years
of legislation regarding infection control. The study also
pinpointed some important concerns that nurses and DICs share
about the current infection control products available on the
market, as well as their concerns about needlestick injuries and
the effects on them and their patients.
The Study Results
According to the study, 64% of all U.S.
nurses have been accidentally stuck by a needle while working,
and 47% of those surveyed had been stuck by a needle that was
contaminated, with 9% saying they had been stuck four or more
times with a contaminated needle. In addition, 82% of DICs
nationwide believe that accidental needlestick injuries remain a
significant, serious hazard, despite the existence of infection
control products on the market today.
A clear majority of U.S. DICs surveyed say
they worry about accidental needlestick injuries among
clinicians – and this concern is second only to back strains as
an occupational hazard. Meanwhile, among nurses, 70% worry about
accidental needlesticks—more so than other concerns, including
back strains, splashes, and falls.
Unfortunately, needlestick injuries
continue to go unreported, according to 63% of DICs and 86% of
nurses. Survey respondents gave a range of answers as to why.
Just under a majority (45%) of DICs said that they believe
people are simply “too busy” to make a report. Other reasons
included “follow up time takes too long,” “afraid of
consequences to job,” “afraid of reporting to health insurance,”
and, less commonly, “forgetfulness.” Nurses’ responses varied
slightly, with more nurse respondents than DICs concerned about
workplace consequences.
Significantly, three out of 10 DICs believe
clinicians do not always engage the needlestick safety
mechanism. The reasons why nurses fail to use infection control
products properly, nearly a majority (48%) responded that “it’s
not a priority,” with clinicians being “too busy with patients”
as the second-most-popular response (46%).
When asked what could be done to protect
healthcare workers from needlestick injuries, 42% of DICs
recommended better infection control products or equipment.
Other DIC respondents cited additional training, more time for
patients and procedures, more organizational focus and support,
and more nurses and staff as additional ways to fight the
problem of accidental needlestick injuries.
More tellingly, nearly all DICs (97%) and
nurses (96%) surveyed said there was room for improvement in the
design of current infection control products, with 70% of DICs
and 65% of nurses stating that retro-fitted designs of safety
syringes, which currently account for over 90% of the market, do
not present the best form of protection nor the best design in
general. Both groups offered suggestions for improvement to
these infection control products, including the creation of
designs that allow hands and fingers to stay behind the needle
while activating the safety mechanism (the number one answer for
DICs, with 80% selecting this response); products that
permanently disable the syringe after the safety mechanism is
activated (the number one answer for nurses, with 72% selecting
this response); infection control products where the safety
feature is integral to the syringe’s overall design; a design
that allows for the use of one hand; products that do not
require add-on pieces, such as sheaths, shields, or caps; and
designs that allow the needle to withdraw into the barrel.
Finally, when looking at the healthcare
industry as a whole, 64% of nurses surveyed said that the
industry has some shortcomings, but is strong overall, and 74%
of DICs agreed. Only 1% of both nurses and DICs said that the
industry has never been healthier, indicating that there is a
great deal of room for improvement. In addition, nearly
two-thirds of DIC respondents say they plan to increase spending
on infection control products and infection control in general
in 2006, with the largest number, 32%, saying they plan to
increase their spending by 6 to 10% or more. And 9% of DICs say
they plan to increase spending by over 50%.
Clearly, there is room for manufacturers of
infection control products to make improvements in order to
protect the health of those in the medical field and those
seeking treatment, as the large number of nurses who continue to
suffer accidental needlestick injuries shows. It is also evident
from the results of this study that education about needlestick
injuries must be improved, as far too many incidents go
unreported, for reasons that could readily be resolved. As
spending increases, there may be room in the budgets of decision
makers to try new and innovative infection control products that
aim to decrease needlestick injuries in innovative ways.
Listening to those that use infection control products on a
daily basis and offering them input into future designs may be
one part of the solution.
Background on the Survey
The breakdown of the backgrounds of the
respondents is as follows:
DICs:
- 35% have been a DIC less than five
years
- 22% have been a DIC for more than 15
years
- 80% have credentials as an RN
- 95% are female
Nurses:
- 14% have been a nurse less than five
years
- 51% have been nurses for more than 15
years
- 91% have credentials as an RN
- 89% are female
The margin of error for the study is plus
or minus 5%.
About the Author
Karen Dunlap, the senior vice president,
global business development, at
Inviro Medical Devices has extensive
experience providing sales leadership for medical technology
companies. Before joining Inviro, Karen was the executive vice
president at New Medical Technologies, Inc., a safety syringe
device manufacturer. For a complete copy of the needlestick
study results, or to learn more about Inviro’s line of infection
control products, including the InviroSNAP!
safety syringe, please visit
www.inviromedical.com.
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