Article Text
Abstract
Objectives This study aims to explore the psychosocial impacts of health care workers (HCW) who were exposed to a contaminated needlestick Injury (NSI) or blood and body fluid (BBF) at work.
Method Personal interviews were performed using a phenomenological approach including in-depth interviews fort data collection, and expert meetings for data analysis. The trustworthiness of the study was examined using Lincoln and Guba (1985) principles.
Results Seventeen health care workers participated in our study. There are five main themes generated, including (1) Emotional loading: shock and collapse, fear of being seroconverted to infectious diseases, worry about family members, and damage of the professional image. (2) Disappointment on the working environment: lack of manpower support, feel isolated and helpless. (3) Disapproving eyes: invasion of privacy, fear of being labelled. (4) Impact on life: feelings of life-threatening, prophylaxis of physical discomfort, impact on professional ambitions. (5) Self-adjustment: efforts to recover from the event.
Conclusions A needlestick injury not only causes risk of infection, but has great psychosocial impact to the victims. Intervention should cover psychosocial support to the health care workers in addition to prophylaxis of infection.