Work accidents with biological material: factors associated with abandoning clinical and laboratory follow-up

• Published in: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P Vol. 53; p. e03516
• Main Authors: Sardeiro, Tatiana Luciano, Souza, Camila Lucas de, Salgado, Thaís de Arvelos, Galdino Júnior, Hélio, Neves, Zilah Cândida Pereira, Tipple, Anaclara Ferreira Veiga
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 2019
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Body Fluids; Clinical Laboratory Services; Cohort Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Patient Dropouts - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1980-220X
• DOI: 10.1590/S1980-220X2018029703516

To analyze the epidemiology of abandoning clinical and laboratory follow-up among health workers who suffered accidents with biological material.
Cohort study based on reported work accidents with biological material in Goiânia/Goiás. Data were analyzed in Stata with descriptive and analytical statistics.
2,104 exposures of the 8,596 reported accidents were analyzed, most of them involving females with completed high school education and belonging to the nursing staff. The accidents predominantly occurred by percutaneous injury involving a needle with lumen during medication administration or vascular access. Follow-up abandonment rate was 41.5%. Predictive factors for discontinuing clinical and laboratory follow-up were age, occupation, use of personal protective equipment (gowns), the object involved in the accident, situation in the labor market, circumstance of exposure and recommended prophylactic conduct.
Given the high abandonment rate found, it is suggested to implement strategies to ensure follow-up and reduce risks to health workers.