Abstract
Objectives
To determine malpractices in syringe disposal by paramedics and to assess the
awareness of this among patients.
Methods
This observational descriptive study was conducted in eight Teaching hospitals of
Rawalpindi and Islamabad for a period of 3 months in 2006. The hospitals
included were Holy Family Hospital (HFH), Rawalpindi General Hospital (RGH),
District Head Quarters Hospital (DHQ), Cantonment General Hospital (CGH),
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), NASCOM hospital, Shifa
International Hospital and Valley hospital. A total of 320 patients coming to
emergency units of above hospitals were included in the study by quota
convenient sampling (40 patients per hospital). Twenty paramedics of study
hospitals were interviewed for assessment of awareness among them about
syringe disposal practices using structured questionnaire.
Results
Sterile syringes used for 92.5% cases in DHQ hospital while in 7.5% cases
syringes were reused and all the syringes were discarded without cutting the
needles. In RGH, seal of the syringes was opened in 95% cases while in 5% they
were reusing the syringes and 50% were disposed off without cutting their
needles. In HFH, syringes were used in the same manner as in RGH and 50%
disposed off by cutting the needles. In PIMS, sterile syringes were used in 97.5%
cases while 60% were thrown off by cutting the needles. In CGH, Shifa
International Hospital and Valley Hospital, sterile syringes were used for 100%
cases and 100% disposed off by cutting the needles. In NASCOM hospital,
although 100% sterile syringes were used but none of them was disposed off
without cutting the needles. Fifty percent paramedics were trained while 30% and
20% were under trained and untrained, respectively. 70% claimed to be
supervised for syringe disposal and among these, 60% were supervised by staff
nurse while 20% by medical superintendent of the hospital. 55% paramedics were
fully aware while 20% were totally unaware of standardized syringe disposal
practices. On the other hand, only 20% patients were well aware while 45% were
not aware of syringe disposal practices.
Conclusion
Although most of the paramedics were well aware of the hazards associated with
improper syringe disposal and their reuse, still improper disposal was practiced at many
public hospitals. There was little awareness of proper syringe disposal among patients.
(Rawal Med J 2009;34: )

Key words: Paramedics, syringes, staff nurse, hpatitis.