Effect of a Face-to-Face Education Program Versus an Official-Imperative Method on Needle-Disposal Behavior of Nurses Working in Kashan, Iran

Background: Education, universal precautions, using protective glasses and a standard method of used needle disposal, are the most important strategies for preventing bloodborne infections. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a face-to-face education program with the effect of an official-imperative circular, on the needle-disposal behavior of nurses working in the Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran. Patients and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. We randomly selected eight wards from the hospital and educated all of the 120 staff nurses working in those wards about universal precautions. After one month, we communicated an official-imperative circular. A monetary penalty was given for non-adherence to the circular’s procedural advice. We used the SPSS 11.5 software for data management and analysis. Results: The educational program increased the proportion of recapped needles from 60.7% to 62.3%. However, this increase was not statistically significant (P = 0.346). After implementing the official-imperative method, this proportion decreased significantly from 62.3% to 11.1% (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Education, per se, is not effective in increasing nurses’ adherence to universal precautions; rather, strict supervision and obligatory regulations should be implemented following education.