Sharps Injury Reporting Amongst Surgeons

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of sharps injury reporting amongst surgeons.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 164 surgeons completed a questionnaire on the reporting of sharps injuries, on the reasons for not reporting and their practise of universal precautions.

RESULTS

Out of 164 surgeons, only 25.8% had reported all their injuries, 22.5% had reported some and 51.7% had reported none. The top three reasons for not reporting their injuries included perception of low risk of transmission, not being concerned and no time. Of the respondents, 15.9% practised all three universal precautions of double-gloving, face shields and hands-free technique.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed that despite local trust adherence to Department of Health policy, sharps injury reporting rates are inadequate. Further investment into healthcare worker education as well as a facilitation of the process of reporting may be necessary to improve reporting rates.     

Reporting standards in venous disease

This report comprises suggested reporting standards for publications dealing with (1) acute lower extremity venous thrombosis, (2) chronic lower extremity venous insufficiency, (3) upper extremity venous thrombosis, and (4) pulmonary embolism. Attempts have been made to set forth numeric grading schemes for disease severity, risk factors, and outcome criteria. Some of the recommendations had to be arbitrary of necessity, but they were judged the most generally acceptable by members of the committee. They are offered not as binding rules but as guidelines whose observance will serve the clarity and precision of communication. (J VASC SURG 1988;8:172-81.)