Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Staff Engagement and Empowerment (motivating staff / teamwork / work revamp tackling manpower issue / staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung KH, Chan KH, Li WM, Leung SH, Ko SH, Li YC
Affiliation :
Family Medicine and General Out-patient Clinic, Kowloon Central Cluster
Introduction :
Blood-taking is a crucial daily operation in General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs), with Needle Stick Injury (NSI) posing a significant occupational health and safety (OSH) risk. Over the period from 2020 to 2022, Kowloon Central Cluster Family Medicine and GOPCs reported a total of 15 NSI incidents, primarily associated with the use of butterfly needles. In response to this concern, various risk control measures were implemented to reduce NSI incidents.
Objectives :
The OSH enhancement program on NSI prevention aims to elevate staff awareness of NSI risk control measures, enhance knowledge on NSI prevention during blood-taking, rectify staff misunderstandings on existing practices, and improve handling skills for NSI.
Methodology :
The program consists of two main components. Firstly, in the identification of preventive measures, a thorough review of NSI incident records was conducted in collaboration with the Departmental Quality and Safety (Q&S) team. This informed the promotion of vacutainer needles over butterfly needles, with vigilant monitoring by the clinic nurse in-charge. Additionally, an instructional video was disseminated to educate staff on the safe use of butterfly needles.
Secondly, the three-phase implementation included a preparatory phase (September 2022) involving a revision of NSI in the Adverse Incident Reporting System (AIRS), environmental safety rounds, identification of high-risk areas, and monthly briefings. The subsequent implementation phase (January-April 2023) featured an instructional video, safety training for frontline staff, procurement of safety-engineered needles, sharps injury prevention tips sharing, and a comprehensive review of blood-taking workflows. The evaluation phase included outcome assessment, safety rounds with the Q&S and OSH teams, supported by timely case sharing and a blood-taking audit scheduled for December 2023.
Result & Outcome :
Result:
Following preventive measures, staff demonstrate a thorough understanding and adherence to safe blood-taking procedures. The team is proficient in using the safety workflow and devices, with a notable reduction in NSI incidents from 5 in 2020, 6 in 2021, and 4 in 2022 to zero in 2023.
Conclusion:
This program emphasizes the importance of a safe blood collection procedure in preventing NSI, contributing to enhanced procedural outcomes and prioritizing the well-being of both patients and medical professionals.
