Educational programmes and sharps injuries in health care workers.

BACKGROUND: Sharps injuries in health care personnel still represent a significant problem worldwide. Many studies show a reduction in sharps injuries following the introduction and use of different protection devices, but few studies focus on the role of training programmes in the prevention of such injuries. AIMS: To analyse the influence of training programmes on sharps injuries in health care workers (HCW). METHODS: The study was carried out in a 350-bed university hospital in north-eastern Italy with 700 HCW. Training courses on biological risk for physicians, nurses, ancillary operators and laboratory technicians have been in place since 1998. Data on all sharps injuries reported by HCW between 1998 and 2006 were analysed together with information on HCW who attended the training courses. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2006, there was a reduction in the incidence of sharps injuries from 11 to 4% (P < 0.01). During the same period, the number of trained HCW increased from 26 to 69% (P < 0.01). Trained personnel had a statistically significant lower relative risk (RR) for injury with RR = 0.06 (95% CI 0.02-0.18). CONCLUSIONS: A continuous educational effort for HCW leads to a reduction of sharps injuries.