Effect of education on the use of universal precautions in a university hospital emergency department. 1990

D A Talan, and L J Baraff
Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View Medical Center, Sylmar, California 91342.

OBJECTIVE To determine if an educational program would improve both knowledge and practice of universal precautions by nursing personnel. METHODS Participants were given a 14-question test and observed for their, practice of universal precautions during routine IV catheter placement or phlebotomy and trauma care before and six months after an education in-service. METHODS University hospital emergency department. METHODS Nursing personnel. METHODS One-hour lecture addressing the occupational risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the recommended use of universal precautions. RESULTS The mean overall correct response rates to the questionnaire before and after the in-service were 70% and 73%, respectively (P = NS). The pattern of incorrect responses suggested that the perceived risks of HIV transmission are underestimated, particularly among healthy-appearing patients. For care of critical trauma patients, there were significant increases between the frequency rates before and after the in-service of glove and protective eyewear use (66.7% vs 87.7%, P less than .025; 0.0% vs 17.3%, P less than .05, respectively). The frequency rates of glove use for IV placement or phlebotomy in noncritical patients and of gown use for trauma patient care also increased (52.6% vs 65.2% and 25% vs 39.5%, respectively); however, these changes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS An intensive educational program was associated with a modest increase in the compliance of ED nursing personnel with universal precautions and had no long-term effect on their general knowledge of HIV risk. The practice of universal precautions is still far from universal in this ED.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009732 Nursing Care Care given to patients by nursing service personnel. Care, Nursing,Management, Nursing Care,Nursing Care Management
D009741 Nursing Staff, Hospital Personnel who provide nursing service to patients in a hospital. Hospital Nursing Staff,Hospital Nursing Staffs,Nursing Staffs, Hospital,Staff, Hospital Nursing,Staffs, Hospital Nursing
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002406 Catheterization, Peripheral Insertion of a catheter into a peripheral artery, vein, or airway for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Arterial Catheterization, Peripheral,Catheterization, Bronchial,Catheterization, Peripheral Arterial,Catheterization, Peripheral Venous,Peripheral Catheterization,Venous Catheterization, Peripheral,Bronchial Catheterization,PICC Line Catheterization,PICC Line Placement,PICC Placement,Peripheral Arterial Catheterization,Peripheral Venous Catheterization,Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Line Insertion,Arterial Catheterizations, Peripheral,Bronchial Catheterizations,Catheterization, PICC Line,Catheterizations, Bronchial,Catheterizations, PICC Line,Catheterizations, Peripheral,Catheterizations, Peripheral Arterial,Catheterizations, Peripheral Venous,PICC Line Catheterizations,PICC Line Placements,PICC Placements,Peripheral Arterial Catheterizations,Peripheral Catheterizations,Peripheral Venous Catheterizations,Placement, PICC,Placement, PICC Line,Placements, PICC,Placements, PICC Line,Venous Catheterizations, Peripheral
D004509 Education, Nursing, Continuing Educational programs designed to inform nurses of recent advances in their fields. Education, Nursing, Post-Basic,Education, Nursing, Post-Registration,Nursing Education, Continuing,Nursing Education, Post-Basic,Nursing Education, Post-Registration,Post-Basic Nursing Education,Post-Registration Nursing Education,Continuing Nursing Education,Education, Continuing Nursing,Education, Post-Basic Nursing,Education, Post-Registration Nursing,Nursing Education, Post Basic,Nursing Education, Post Registration,Post Basic Nursing Education,Post Registration Nursing Education
D004636 Emergency Service, Hospital Hospital department responsible for the administration and provision of immediate medical or surgical care to the emergency patient. Emergency Outpatient Unit,Emergency Services Utilization,Hospital Emergency Room,Hospital Emergency Service,Hospital Emergency Services Utilization,Accident and Emergency Department,Emergency Departments,Emergency Hospital Service,Emergency Room,Emergency Units,Emergency Ward,Hospital Service Emergency,Service, Hospital Emergency,Department, Emergency,Departments, Emergency,Emergencies, Hospital Service,Emergency Department,Emergency Hospital Services,Emergency Outpatient Units,Emergency Room, Hospital,Emergency Rooms,Emergency Rooms, Hospital,Emergency Services, Hospital,Emergency Unit,Emergency Wards,Emergency, Hospital Service,Hospital Emergency Rooms,Hospital Emergency Services,Hospital Service Emergencies,Hospital Service, Emergency,Hospital Services, Emergency,Outpatient Unit, Emergency,Outpatient Units, Emergency,Room, Emergency,Room, Hospital Emergency,Rooms, Emergency,Rooms, Hospital Emergency,Service Emergencies, Hospital,Service Emergency, Hospital,Service, Emergency Hospital,Services Utilization, Emergency,Services Utilizations, Emergency,Services, Emergency Hospital,Services, Hospital Emergency,Unit, Emergency,Unit, Emergency Outpatient,Units, Emergency,Units, Emergency Outpatient,Utilization, Emergency Services,Ward, Emergency,Wards, Emergency
D005932 Gloves, Surgical Gloves, usually rubber, worn by surgeons, examining physicians, dentists, and other health personnel for the mutual protection of personnel and patient. Surgical Gloves,Glove, Surgical,Surgical Glove
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993. AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D015397 Program Evaluation Studies designed to assess the efficacy of programs. They may include the evaluation of cost-effectiveness, the extent to which objectives are met, or impact. Evaluation, Program,Family Planning Program Evaluation,Program Appropriateness,Program Effectiveness,Program Sustainability,Appropriateness, Program,Effectiveness, Program,Evaluations, Program,Program Evaluations,Program Sustainabilities,Sustainabilities, Program,Sustainability, Program

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