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The management of public health risks is a key focus for the European Union. One of the key factors that has been shown to pose a public health risk is that of the management of needles from healthcare facilities. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Using audits of two case study hospitals based in northern Italy, this study sought to examine the key factors that resulted in needle stick injuries amongst staff and suggest measures to minimise these risks.

The number of needle stick injuries was influenced by various key factors including the time period during the year, the length of time employed, the location within the site, staff category and working hours.

Suggestions for overcoming the risk factors, including redesigning working patterns, staff training and awareness building, and the use of safety-engineered devices are outlined.

This study examined the incidence of needle stick injuries amongst healthcare staff in two Italian hospitals, which was lower than in other countries due to various factors, including recapping of needles not being allowed, the introduction of self-retractable needles and awareness campaigns about the correct disposal procedures of potentially infectious waste.

The study aims to assess healthcare workers' needle‐stick injury (NSI) knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP).

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a 600‐bedded hospital throughout six months. The data were collected using an anonymous, self‐reporting questionnaire. Participants were various healthcare workers (HCW) drawn through stratified random sampling and their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding NSI were assessed.

There is significant difference in the mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores among healthcare workers. Even though scores are better for doctors and nurses, practice scores were better for technical staff. Healthcare workers, who had better practice scores, had suffered fewer NSIs. Since this study is a cross‐sectional, the population's NSI incidence could not be calculated.

This study emphasizes that applying knowledge to practice is required to prevent NSIs. Various recommendations to help prevent and deal with NSIs are made.

This study analyses healthcare workers' NSI knowledge, attitude and practices, and also assesses their correlation with NSI incidence, which has not been done previously.

This article examines the issue of prison needle‐exchange programmes (PNEP) based upon the international experience and evidence in six countries. A review of existing literature was undertaken together with original research comprising site visits to prison needle‐exchange programmes in four countries operating such initiatives in October 2002. During the course of the research, prison needle exchange programmes were initiated in two other countries, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus. Site visits were not possible in respect of these two countries, and data was gathered via conversations with staff and funding organisations involved and by the examination of documentary evidence. The paper presents an overview of the PNEP initiated and a commentry on the outcomes. Based upon the evidence emerging from the investigation, the paper concludes that while prison syringe‐exchange programmes have been implemented in diverse environments and under differing circumstances, the results of the programmes have been remarkably consistent. Improved prisoner health and reduction of needle sharing have been achieved. Fears of violence, increased drug consumption, and other negative consequences have not materialised. Based on the evidence and experience, it can be concluded unequivocally that prison needle‐exchange programmes effectively address the health‐related harms associated with needle sharing in prisons and do not undermine institutional safety or security.

Using a health belief model (HBM), this study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Iranian midwives in relation to HIV/AIDS protection behavior and to determine the needs of interventional programs for promotion of the behavior among midwives of maternity care units.

This was a cross‐sectional study in five selected hospitals in Isfahan. All 58 midwifery personnel of maternity wards of these hospitals participated in the study. Tools for data collection were a checklist to assess midwives' practice and a questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitude, and the HBM of midwives about HIV/AIDS‐protection methods.

A total of 58 midwifery personnel with average working experience of 10.92±7.98 years were assessed in the study and with a high knowledge, positive attitude and moderate practice about HIV/AIDS protection methods. The midwives perceived two main barriers, which impacted on their self‐efficacy and their protection behavior. These barriers were the emergency conditions of the work and the low availability of protective equipment.

HIV/AIDS protection behavior and HBM of midwives can be promoted by overcoming management barriers such as inadequate midwifery personnel in emergency conditions and insufficient protective equipment. The behavior also needs to be promoted by educational interventions which focus on improving midwives' perceived risk of HIV/AIDS infection.

The purpose of this paper is to provide education on blood-borne viruses (BBVs) to prison staff to help reduce stigma within the prisons, improve the care prisoners receive and reduce the risk of occupational transmission.

An e-module was used to improve staff understanding of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV at a prison in Wales, UK. An assessment was used to gather data on prison staff understanding of BBVs prior to undertaking the e-module.

In total, 530/697 (76 per cent) prison staff completed the BBV e-module. Average pre- and post-course assessment scores were 8.6/11 and 10.85/11, respectively. Most staff understood the modes of hepatitis transmission, however, gaps in understanding were highlighted. In total, 22 per cent of staff believed HBV and HCV were airborne, 9 per cent believed transmission occurred through sharing cutlery. In total, 31 per cent of staff believed prisoners with hepatitis should declare their status to the prison.

The e-module significantly improved staff understanding of BBVs and should be incorporated into future prison training packages. Future education should include how BBVs are not transmitted with an emphasis on casual contact. Medical confidentiality in prisons should also be addressed. Improving understanding will help reduce the stigma of BBVs within prison and improve the multidisciplinary care the prisoner receives.

To the authors knowledge this is the first published evaluation of a BBV learning package for custodial staff. Evaluation of this educational package demonstrates a unique and valuable insight into the general understanding of BBVs by prison staff in Wales, UK.

Explores the need for risk management in a health care setting in both financial and personal terms. Sets out the stages of a risk management programme. Stresses the need to incorporate such a programme in every hospital setting in order to reduce negligence claims so that scarce resources can be directed more towards patient care. The identification, analysis and control of risks support the assets, good name and earning capacity of a hospital.

Opiod users are at high risk of suffering from drug overdoses. Naloxone has been used for decades in emergency treatment settings to reverse the symptoms of opioid overdose. Pilot studies and regional programmes have been rolled out to make naloxone more widely available. This review of user/carer administration of naloxone – so-called “take home naloxone” – aims to provide health professionals and interested readers with an up-to-date evidence base, clinical implications and practical concern considerations for such community management. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

A review and analysis of the recent literature on naloxone.

The evidence base suggests training and education is effective in preparing users for wider naloxone distribution. Furthermore, studies of varying quality indicate that naloxone may prove useful in reducing overdose-related deaths. However, even after implementation ineffective response techniques continued to be used at times and there remained a heistance to call medical services post overdose. Intranasal naloxone may reduce some of the risks associated with intramuscular naloxone. Ethical considerations, including provision of a needle and syringe kit to the community, should be considered. Studies suffered from a lack of follow-up data and methodological difficulties are associated with establishing opioid-related deaths post implementation. Two running trials in the UK might mitigate these concerns.

Future research is needed to address wider context of an overdose and targeting associated risk factors.

Clinicians and other professionals will be informed on the most up-to-date evidence base and which areas are improtant to consider when take-home naloxone is introduced in their services.

The Medical Futures Innovation Awards is a unique UK based awards process that is aimed at not only discovering the next breakthroughs in healthcare, but helping healthcare professionals and academics deliver them to market. By entering the awards process, front line clinicians and academics have the chance to pitch their ideas to a world class panel of experts whose advice, guidance and peer‐review brings unparalleled validation. Crucially, as well as the critical recognition and endorsement, winners receive a bespoke package of support to turn ideas into viable propositions that have credibility with investors.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

The innovations recognised for the 2008 awards included; targeted genetic techniques to optimise cancer treatments, a form of injectable bone, a stem cell therapy to repair damaged cardiac muscle, a dental imaging technique that does not use x‐rays, and a portable hand held hearing device to detect hearing loss in less than 30 seconds.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

This article sets out guidelines for psychiatric practice prepared at the request of The Royal College of Psychiatrists. It gives an overview of psychosocial and neuropsychiatric problems in HIV disease, service implications and guidance on HIV screening and testing. Advice is given on the issue of confidentiality in relation to HIV status, the avoidance of infection and general recommendations for implementing the guidelines and the development of any necessary special policies or practices in Mental Health Units.

It is becoming increasingly important for providers of health care to manage the health and safety of their workforce effectively. In the competitive world of health care, organizations seeking accreditation for quality are having to allot greater importance to health and safety than in the past. The manager of occupational health services for West Birmingham Health District, which has recently applied for Trust status, explores some of the reasons for this.