Rrm. Gershon et al., Health care workers' experience with postexposure management of bloodbornepathogen exposures: A pilot study, AM J INFECT, 28(6), 2000, pp. 421-428
Purpose: This descriptive study of health care workers enrolled in a postex
posure bloodborne pathogen management program had 3 goals: (1) to character
ize their exposure incidents, (2) to assess health care workers' experience
with the program, and (3) to identify strategies to improve the management
of exposure incidents.
Methods: A confidential, self-administered, 5-page survey was mailed to 150
hospital employees who were recently evaluated in the employee health clin
ic for a blood/body fluid exposure.
Results: Sixty-five usable surveys were returned to the study office, repre
senting a 43% response rate. Although the majority of the employees enrolle
d in the postexposure management program were generally satisfied with the
overall quality of care they received, many respondents perceived a lack of
social support during the lengthy follow-up period. Long-term distress rel
ated to the exposure was not uncommon. The respondents' suggestions for imp
rovement focused on the need for department managers to become more persona
lly involved when their staff members have an exposure incident.
Conclusion: These qualitative data suggest that additional studies are need
ed to assess both the short-term and long-term impact of exposure incidents
on the health and well being of affected health care workers. In addition,
because of a paucity of information in this area, studies are needed to as
sess both the effectiveness of the United States Public Health Service reco
mmendations for postexposure management and the degree to which they have b
een implemented by health care facilities.