Authors : Aulin Vitus; Sony Antony; Ahmad Subhi; Salma Alshamsi; Babitha Sujith; Josna Joy; Divya Rasmi Sreejith; Jamie Scott Mascarinas

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/85v4vk86

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/msr3cyjp

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar321

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Background: Needlestick injuries (NSIs) remain a significant occupational hazard in healthcare, exposing healthcare workers (HCWs) to bloodborne pathogens and generating substantial clinical and economic burden. Despite established infection prevention policies, NSIs continue to occur due to behavioral, procedural, environmental and system-level gaps. Evidence on structured quality improvement (QI) interventions for NSI reduction in the UAE remains limited.  Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured FOCUS–PDCA–based QI intervention in reducing NSI incidence, improving compliance and knowledge related to sharps safety, and reducing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)–related costs in a tertiary healthcare facility.  Methods: A retrospective pre–post interventional study was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital in Sharjah, UAE. Baseline data (January–December 2024) were compared with post-intervention data following implementation of a multidisciplinary FOCUS–PDCA intervention (January–December 2025). Interventions included policy revision, staff education, introduction of safety-engineered devices, puncture-resistant sharps containers, and monthly compliance audits. NSI rates per 100 fulltime equivalents (FTE), compliance with sharps-handling practices, staff knowledge scores, and exposure-management costs were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Poisson rate-ratio testing (α = 0.05).  Results: Overall NSI incidence decreased from 3.68 to 1.06 per 100 FTE, representing a 71% relative reduction (rate ratio [RR] = 0.29; 95% CI 0.16–0.54; p < 0.001). Statistically significant reductions were observed in high-risk areas, including Emergency and Critical Care units. Compliance with safe sharps-handling practices improved from 38.3% to 88.3% (p < 0.001), and post-training knowledge scores increased significantly across all departments. Total NSI-related management costs decreased by 60.7%, yielding absolute savings of AED 101,010.4.  Conclusion: Implementation of a structured PDCA-based QI approach resulted in significant, sustained reductions in NSI rates, marked improvements in compliance and knowledge, and substantial cost savings. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of systematic, multimodal QI interventions for occupational safety and supports broader adoption of PDCA-driven sharpssafety programs in healthcare settings.

Keywords : Needlestick Injuries; Quality Improvement; PDCA; Sharps Safety; Occupational Health; Healthcare Workers.

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