Assessing the Impact of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Nursing Staff on Occupational Safety and Health in Palestinian Hospitals رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Occupational safety and health (OSH) is considered one of the most essential aspects in the workplace, particularly in healthcare settings, as healthcare providers, including nurses, are exposed to a variety of occupational hazards that may have long-term adverse health effects. This study aims to assess the current levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding OSH among nurses in Palestinian hospitals, examine the associations between KAP and selected demographic and organizational factors, and explore nurses’ perceptions of the current OSH conditions and related challenges. To this end, a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional design was employed using a structured, self-administered KAP questionnaire on OSH developed by the researcher based on validated instruments from previous studies. The target population of the study consisted of (10,800) nurses working in the West Bank hospitals, from which a sample of 388 full time registered nurses from different departments participated in this study. From the statistical analyses, it was found that 24.2% of nurses demonstrated good knowledge, 30.9% positive attitudes, and 30.9% good safety practices; 26.3% achieved a high overall KAP score. Also, it was found that as knowledge increases, the OSH improves. It was concluded that having a good level of KAP is an important trait in being a nurse, especially considering the hazards found in this career. Furthermore, it found that resource constraints (29.6%) and unmet training needs (22.2%) were the most frequently cited implementation barriers. It is recommended that the Palestinian Ministry of Health (PMOH) and human recourses departments should hold structured training programs regarding OSH, self- discipline, and leadership. Additionally, the PMOH should encourage the incidence reporting culture among the healthcare providers. Moreover, nurses should attend special courses to improve their knowledge, commitment to safety standards, and controlling their attitudes and practices in hazardous situations.