       Document 0911
 DOCN  M9460911
 TI    Safe working practices and HIV infection: knowledge, attitudes,
       perception of risk, and policy in hospital.
 DT    9406
 AU    Davidson G; Gillies P; University Hospital and Medical School,
       University of Nottingham.
 SO    Qual Health Care. 1993 Mar;2(1):21-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       AHA/94163288
 AB    OBJECTIVES--To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of risk
       of occupational HIV transmission in hospital in relation to existing
       guidelines. DESIGN--Cross sectional anonymous questionnaire survey of
       all occupational groups. SETTING--One large inner city teaching
       hospital. SUBJECTS--All 1530 staff working in the hospital in October
       1991 and 22 managers. MAIN MEASURES--Knowledge of safe working practices
       and hospital guidelines; attitudes towards patients with AIDS;
       perception of risk of occupational transmission of HIV; availability of
       guidelines. RESULTS--The response rate in the questionnaire survey was
       63% (958/1530). Although staff across all occupational groups knew of
       the potential risk of infection from needlestick injury (98%, 904/922),
       significantly more non-clinical staff (ambulance, catering, and domestic
       staff) than clinical staff (doctors, nurses, and paramedics) thought HIV
       could be transmitted by giving blood (38%, 153/404 v 12%, 40/346; chi 2
       = 66.1 p < 0.001); one in ten clinical staff believed this. Except for
       midwives, half of staff in most occupational groups and 19% (17/91) of
       doctors and 22% (28/125) of nurses thought gloves should be worn in all
       contacts with people with AIDS. Most staff (62%, 593/958), including 38%
       (36/94) of doctors and 52% (67/128) of nurses thought patients should be
       routinely tested on admission, 17% of doctors and 19% of nurses thought
       they should be isolated in hospital. One in three staff perceived
       themselves at risk of HIV. Midwives, nurses, and theatre technicians
       were most aware of guidelines for safe working compared with only half
       of doctors, ambulance, and paramedical staff and no incinerator staff.
       CONCLUSIONS--Policy guidelines for safe working practices for patients
       with HIV infection and AIDS need to be disseminated across all
       occupational groups to reduce negative staff attitudes, improve
       knowledge of occupational transmission, establish an appropriate
       perception of risk, and create a supportive and caring hospital
       environment for people with HIV. IMPLICATIONS--Managers need to
       disseminate policy guidelines and information to all staff on an ongoing
       basis.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PREVENTION & CONTROL/  *TRANSMISSION
       *Attitude of Health Personnel  *Disease Transmission,
       Patient-to-Professional  England  Guidelines  Hospitals,
       Teaching/MANPOWER/STANDARDS  Hospitals, Urban/MANPOWER/STANDARDS  Human
       Interviews  *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Occupational
       Exposure/PREVENTION & CONTROL/*STATISTICS & NUMER  DATA  Personnel,
       Hospital/*PSYCHOLOGY/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA/STANDARDS  Questionnaires
       Risk Factors  Universal Precautions  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

