Influence of exposure to biological material in the adhesion to the use of personal protective equipment - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v9i2.8282

Abstract

Exposure to biological material is one of the main concerns of managers and professionals in occupational safety and can have serious consequences for the worker. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to biological material is a determining factor for the acceptance of protective equipment from the part of nursing personnel. It is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach carried out in 2008 in a large university hospital of Goiânia (Brazil). Data was collected through focus groups. When analyzing the discourse of the groups it was noticed that the accident with biological material was not a determinant of adhesion to protective equipment, ranging from continued adhesion to no compliance of use. It was observed that the experience of this exposure influences to a greater or lesser extent in changing behavior for adhesion to the use of protective equipment. However this behavior is individual and is influenced by other factors such as absence or inadequacy of protective equipment, work overload, pressure and emergency situations. The implementation of continuing education with discussion of risk situations experienced by exposed workers will be required for adhesion and conscious use of personal protective equipment.