Professional injuries of health workers

I chose the topic of my thesis, professional injuries of health workers, because I wished to know how such problems are evaluated, as each of us has been or will be in a health facility some day and will see health workers performing their work. From my experience regarding health facilities, I knew that not all acts of health workers are appropriate, but I did not know whether they violate legislation or rules of operation, or whether their procedures are correct. Therefore I chose the topic in order to learn the facts about professional injuries and procedures followed by health workers when executing their jobs. Health workers are exposed to the risk of injury by a sharp object and to the associated risk of infection every day. In the Czech Republic, both non-professional and professional injuries are monitored. Health workers are also exposed to the risk of infections in consequence of professional injuries, such as hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E, HIV/AIDS, cytomegalovirus infection, infectious mononucleosis and syphilis. The aim of my thesis is to evaluate the monitored numbers of injuries of health workers in Ústí nad Labem according to determined criteria, and to focus on the observance of valid legal regulations when handling medical materials, medical means and dangerous waste. Further, the aim was to make health workers familiar with the research results and to participate in training on work safety in health facilities. The hypothesis of my thesis is that valid legislation is observed when handling medical materials, medical means and dangerous waste. As the research method, I used questionnaires, which were distributed in five hospital wards, and secondary data collection from health records of the years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, which were available at the anti-epidemic department of the Regional Hygienic Station in Ústí nad Labem. I think that the hypothesis as provided in my thesis was not confirmed as health workers do not observe the valid legislation in the Czech Republic. The aim of my work was fulfilled, because I processed the questionnaires in tables and graphs, and the secondary data collection was evaluated in tables and the obtained results were compared with other available resources regarding the problems. The findings of the thesis will be interpreted to the head nurse of Krajská zdravotní a.s. {--} Masarykova nemocnice (Masaryk Hospital) in Ústí nad Labem who will subsequently organize training of head nurses. Further, the findings will be used for the preparation of an educational program for health workers and will be interpreted to concerned persons