Awareness regarding prevention and management of needle stick injury among the health care providers in a tertiary care Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha- A qualitative data exploration

Needle stick injuries are preventable causes of fearsome diseases like Hepatitis B and HIV. In spite of this knowledge, the health care providers are quite negligent, and the institutional support too is compromised due to the increased demand for services. The current study is a dipstick audit of the knowledge and practices on NSI (prevention and management) among exposed health care workers, with specific reference to HIV infection in a private health facility in Bhubaneswar city, using an unorthodox tool of Focus Group Discussions among the participants.: The exercise was a part of the academic activity of health promotion on World AIDS Day 2021. Health care workers such as doctors, paramedical staff & utility staff voluntarily participated in the FGD session. Total 3 FGDs were conducted at 3 different places inside the hospital premises. Three moderators were selected previously and after discussing the theme of World AIDS Day, they guided the FGDs with similar probing questionnaires. The sessions were recorded with the help of a recorder and also noted down along with Sociograms. The data gave a real picture of how even premier institutions are complacent regarding the problem. Only 27% knew about the SOPs, and in none of the stations,SOPs were displayed or a register was maintained regarding NSI in their work area. None of the participants were aware of Post Exposure Prophylaxis for the same. This indeed highlighted an ignored aspect of quality health care. The data was an eye-opener in a tertiary care center and from time to time there should be refresher training or sessions to increase the level of awareness.