Threats to operating room personnel’s occupational safety and health: a qualitative study

  • Mina Amiri Dore
  • Camellia Torabizadeh
  • Zahra Keshtkaran
Keywords: Occupational, Safety, Health, Operating room, Nursing

Abstract

Background & Objective: Every operating room has been associated with a variety of occupational hazards, but not many studies have been conducted to assess and address these hazards. We used a qualitative approach to explore operating room personnel’s experiences of workplace hazards and how these hazards threaten their occupational safety and health (OSH).

Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted in five teaching hospitals in the south-west of Iran from February 2019 to March 2021. The sample was 24 operating room personnel who were selected under convenient sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured, individual interviews, document review and non-participant observation. The collected data were analyzed according to the qualitative content analysis method using MAXQDA v. 2020.

Results: After prolonged analysis of the data, the researchers extracted 644 codes, 13 subcategories, 4 categories, and 1 main theme. The main theme of the study was working in a context of occupational hazards.

Conclusions: Operating rooms are full of potential dangers, which, when combined with the personnel’s negligence and management inefficiencies, increase the risk of occupational health and safety. Therefore, making working conditions safe by providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), in-service training, and identifying and managing the causes of personnel negligence are recommended. Moreover, strategies should be introduced to manage stress and conflicts among the healthcare personnel, thus controlling psychological hazards.

Abbreviations: OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration; OSH - Occupational Safety and Health; HEPA - High-efficiency particulate absorbing filters; ORP - Operating room personnel

Key words: Occupational; Safety, Health; Operating room; Nursing

Citation: AmiriDore M, Torabizadeh C, Keshtkaran Z. Threats to operating room personnel’s occupational safety and health: a qualitative study. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;26(3):368-381. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v26i3.1912

Received: December 05, 2021; Reviewed: March 04, 2022; Accepted: March 06, 2022

 

Author Biographies

Mina Amiri Dore

Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Camellia Torabizadeh

Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Zahra Keshtkaran

Department of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Published
04-06-2022
How to Cite
Dore, M., Torabizadeh, C., & Keshtkaran, Z. (2022). Threats to operating room personnel’s occupational safety and health: a qualitative study. Anaesthesia, Pain & Intensive Care, 26(3), 368-381. https://doi.org/10.35975/apic.v26i3.1912
Section
ORIGINAL RESEARCH