Description of practices related to insulin injection therapy and sharp disposal among patients attending the diabetic clinic, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Attached

Introduction: Diabetic patients on insulin therapy are compelled to use sharps such as insulin needles and lancets on a regular basis. A s a result thousands o f used sharps and bloodstained materials are generated daily by them. While there is a huge concern over sharps disposal practices in healthcare settings, the sharps disposal practices o f diabetic patients living at home has been poorly documented. M ethodology: Randomly selected sample o f 158 diabetic patients were obtained from the diabetic clinic, Colombo North Teaching Hospital. Data collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire and clinic records. Results: Sample population was aged between 21 and 90. Mean age 60. Majority had used insulin for more than 1 year 131/158 (83 %). Very few 5/158 (3 %) used the insulin pen while majority used syringes 153 (96.8 %) to inject insulin. Only 10 (6 %) regularly checked blood sugar using needles/Iancets. Majority 132/158(84 %) injected insulin more than twice per day and >50 % used the same needle more than 6 times, for more than 3 days. Majority 150/153(98 %) o f the syringe users recapped the needle. A significant number 73/158(46 %) also involved others when injecting and disposing needles. Two patients reported knowledge o f an accidental needle-stick injury having occurred, both in cases where a family member routinely assisted with the injections. Used needles/pens were disposed in to a common household garbage bin, shaips container, toilet pit, garbage dump and indiscrim inately by 66(42 %), 9(6 %), 8(5 %), 4(8 %), 11(7 %) respectively. Some 15/158 (9.5 %) have collected shaips since beginning without disposing. Many respondents 147/158 (93 %) had received no information on how to dispose o f their sharps. Those who recalled receiving information were more likely to dispose o f then- sharps safely p < 0.05. Conclusions: Insulin-dependent diabetic patients are not educated on safe sharps disposal methods, leading to unsafe disposal o f needles hence putting people at risk for injury. Appropriate education on the correct disposal o f sharps should be an integral part o f their diabetic counselling. A national program for disposal o f sharps at Homes should be implemented. Dr. K R Atukorala 31 years obtained MBBS from Faculty o f Medicine, University o f Colombo, Sri Lanka is currently attached to the department o f Physiology, Faculty o f Medicine, University o f Sri Jayaatdenapura as a lecturer. She has published and communicated her research work in number o f local and international conferences.