palestinian Nurses' Knowlwdge and Perceptions Regarding Occupational Hazards in Three Jerusalem Hospitals
Date
2022-05-31
Authors
Dalal Daoud Zawahre
دلال داوود زواهرة
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
Background. Nurses are often exposed to occupational hazards because the nature of their work requires them to be in direct contact with patients and to deal with materials and tools that require extreme caution and care. It has been shown by many previous studies that the nursing staff must have full knowledge of occupational hazards that they may encounter, to perceive the seriousness of the work environment conditions and to take necessary measures and precautions to prevent exposure to workplace hazards.
Aims. The aims of this study are (1) to assess Palestinian nurses’ levels of knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding occupational health hazards, (2) to examine whether there is a difference in Palestinian nurses’ levels of knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding occupational health hazards related to their demographic characteristics (3) to examine whether there are relationships between nurses’ knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding occupational health hazards.
Sampling. A convenience sample of 217 nurses currently working in three hospitals in Jerusalem were recruited to participate in this study.
Instruments. A self-administered questionnaire was adapted from previous studies to assess participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, their knowledge, attitudes and practices about occupational health hazards.
Analysis. SPSS software was used to analyze data. Demographic variables were described using frequencies and percentages. Correlational analysis was used to examine the relationships between study variables, including Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficients, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analyses.
Results. Participants’ levels of knowledge, perceptions and practices in regard to occupational hazards came in the high rank 3.30 (4), 2.87 (3), 81.3% respectively,
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indicating that most participants had sufficient levels of knowledge, perceptions and practices in regard to occupational health hazards.
There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of participants’ knowledge of occupational hazards related to their age, gender or years of experience. While there were statistically significant differences in their knowledge of occupational hazards related to their educational qualification.
There were no statistically significant differences in the nurses’ perceptions of occupational hazards related to their age and years of experience. While there were statistically significant differences in their perceptions related to their gender and educational qualifications. There were no statistically significant differences in the nurses’ practices regarding occupational hazards related to their age, gender, educational qualification, and years of experience. There was a statistically significant relationship between participants’ knowledge, perceptions and their practices regarding occupational hazards.
Conclusion. Nurses’ knowledge, and practices regarding occupational hazards are related to their educational qualifications. Knowledge, as well as perceptions of occupational hazards are related to their conscious practices of occupational hazards’ prevention. It is important to raise the nurses’ awareness about the occupational hazards and to follow clear plans and policies pertinent to occupational hazards’ prevention in this study’s targeted hospitals.
Keywords. Knowledge, Perceptions, Practices, Nurses, Occupational hazards.