AN ANALYTICAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY TO MEASURE THE PREVALENCE AND EXPOSURE OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AMONG STAFF NURSES OF SELECTED HOSPITAL, LUDHIANA

Author Name: 1. Mrs. Harpreet Kaur 2. Miss. Jaspreet Kaur Sodhi

Volume/Issue: 02/05

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2021-36815221/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Assistant Professor, Institute of Nursing Education, Guru Teg Bahadur sahib (c)                                          Hospital, Ludhiana. Punjab, India
2. Lecturer, College of nursing, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, India

ABSTRACT

Proper use of safety measures means to prevent or reduce a variety of occupational health hazards which may occur during work in workplace. There is lack of knowledge about hazards and use of personal protective equipment’s among staff nurses. To enhance the knowledge, nurses needs to update with the fast changing and advancing knowledge. A cross sectional study was conducted on staff nurses working in selected hospital of Ludhiana, Punjab. 80 Staff nurses were selected by convenient sampling technique. Data was collected by semi structured questionnaire and check list. Data was analysed by descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, prevalence ratio, odd ratio and presented through tables and graph. Findings revealed that majority 71% of staff nurses were in the age group of 22 – 31 years. As per gender, majority 90% of staff nurses were female. As per professional qualification, 43% of staff nurses were BSC Nursing. Maximum 54% of staff nurses were unmarried. Majority of 61% of staff nurses were working on temporary basis. Majority of 76% of staff nurses were belong to Sikh religion. Maximum 67% of staff nurses were with work experience of 1 – 5 years. Majority of 67% of staff nurses were posted in general ward. Majority of 38% of staff nurses had average knowledge regarding occupational hazards. There was significant relationship between knowledge of occupational hazards with professional qualification, type of employment and religion. As per prevalence, biological hazards were more with 63.17% followed by psychosocial hazards with 30% , chemical hazards with 27.5% and least percentage 6.2% of physical hazards among staff nurses. A similar study can be conducted on large sample and by selecting experimental and control group for study. A comparative study can be conducted to compare knowledge of staff nurses in government and private hospitals.

Key words: Occupational hazards, Prevalence, Psychosocial