Needle-stick injuries pose a significant occupational hazard among nursing students, increasing the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections. The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme in improving knowledge about needle-stick injuries and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among nursing students studying at V.V.Vanniaperumal Nursing College for Women, Virudhunagar. A pre-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test research design was used for the investigation. The study sample consisted of 48 nursing students who were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire designed to assess the participants’ level of knowledge before and after the educational intervention. The gathered data were systematically arranged and analyzed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The results of the study demonstrated a considerable improvement in post-test knowledge scores when compared to the pre-test scores. The obtained t-value of 8.40 was found to be statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level, confirming the effectiveness of the structured teaching programme. In addition, certain demographic factors, including place of residence, family type, parents’ educational status, socioeconomic background, and previous awareness regarding needle-stick injuries and PEP, showed a significant relationship with the pre-test knowledge scores. The study concluded that the structured teaching programme successfully enhanced the knowledge of nursing students regarding needle-stick injuries and post-exposure prophylaxis. Such educational programmes are important for increasing awareness and encouraging safe preventive practices among future healthcare professionals.

Keywords:  Needle-stick injury, post-exposure prophylaxis, sStructured teaching programme, nursing students, knowledge assessment

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1. Deisenhammer S, Radon K, Nowak D, Reichert J. Needlestick injuries during medical training. J Hosp Infect. 2006;63(3):263–267. doi: 1016/j.jhin.2006.01.019.
2. Jayanth ST, Kirupakaran H, Brahmadathan KN, Gnanaraj L, Kang G. Needle stick injuries in a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2009;27(1):44–47.
3. Naidu RT, Toal P, Mishra SC, Nair B, Shejul YK. Incidence of needlestick injury among healthcare workers in western India. Indian J Med Res. 2023;158(5–6):552–558. doi: 4103/ijmr.ijmr_892_23.
4. Mehta A, Rodrigues C, Ghag S, Bavi P, Shenai S, Dastur F. Needlestick injuries in a tertiary care centre in Mumbai, India. J Hosp Infect. 2005;60(4):368–373. doi: 1016/j.jhin.2004.12.015.
5. Rogers B, Goodno L. Evaluation of interventions to prevent needlestick injuries in health care occupations. Am J Prev Med. 2000;18(4 Suppl):90–98. doi: 1016/S0749-3797(00)00145-8.
6. Trim JC, Elliott TS. A review of sharps injuries and preventative strategies. J Hosp Infect. 2003;53(4):237–242. doi: 1053/jhin.2002.1378.
7. Hanrahan A, Reutter L. A critical review of the literature on sharps injuries: Epidemiology, management of exposures and prevention. J Adv Nurs. 1997;25(1):144–154. doi: 1046/j.1365-2648.1997.1997025144.x.
8. Bell DM. Occupational risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection in healthcare workers: An overview. Am J Med. 1997;102(5B):9–15. doi: 1016/S0002-9343(97)89441-7.
9. Ippolito G, Puro V, De Carli G; Italian Study Group on Occupational Risk of HIV Infection. The risk of occupational human immunodeficiency virus infection in health care workers. Arch Intern Med. 1993;153(12):1451–1458.
10. Yazdanpanah Y, De Carli G, Migueres B, Lot F, Campins M, Colombo C, et al. Risk factors for hepatitis C virus transmission to health care workers after occupational exposure: A European case-control study. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;41(10):1423–1430. doi: 1086/497131.
11. S. Public Health Service. Updated U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2001 Jun 29;50(RR-11):1–52. PMID: 11442229.
12. Kofman AD, Struble KA, Heneine W, Gayle B, de Perio MA, Okasako-Schmucker DL, et al. 2025 US Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus and recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis in healthcare settings. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2025;46(9):863–873. doi: 1017/ice.2025.10254.
13. Gurubacharya DL, Mathura KC, Karki DB. Knowledge, attitude and practices among health care workers on needle-stick injuries. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ). 2003;1(2):91–94.
14. Radha R, Khan A. Epidemiology of needle stick injuries among the health care workers of a rural tertiary care hospital: A cross-sectional study. Natl J Community Med. 2012;3(4):589–594. Available from: https://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/1774
15. Lee LK, Hassim IN. Implication of the prevalence of needlestick injuries in a general hospital in Malaysia and its risk in clinical practice. Environ Health Prev Med. 2005;10(1):33–41. doi: 1265/ehpm.10.33.
16. Salelkar S, Motghare DD, Kulkarni MS, Vaz FS. Study of needle stick injuries among health care workers at a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Public Health. 2010;54(1):18–20. doi: 4103/0019-557X.70540.
17. Reddy VK, Lavoie MC, Verbeek JH, Pahwa M. Devices for preventing percutaneous exposure injuries caused by needles in healthcare personnel. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;11(11): doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009740.pub3.
18. Alhazmi RA, Parker RD, Wen S. Needlestick injuries among emergency medical services providers in urban and rural areas. J Community Health. 2018;43(3):518–523. doi: 10.1007/s10900-017-0446-0

Needle-stick injuries pose a significant occupational hazard among nursing students, increasing the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections. The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme in improving knowledge about needle-stick injuries and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among nursing students studying at V.V.Vanniaperumal Nursing College for Women, Virudhunagar. A pre-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test research design was used for the investigation. The study sample consisted of 48 nursing students who were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire designed to assess the participants’ level of knowledge before and after the educational intervention. The gathered data were systematically arranged and analyzed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The results of the study demonstrated a considerable improvement in post-test knowledge scores when compared to the pre-test scores. The obtained t-value of 8.40 was found to be statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level, confirming the effectiveness of the structured teaching programme. In addition, certain demographic factors, including place of residence, family type, parents’ educational status, socioeconomic background, and previous awareness regarding needle-stick injuries and PEP, showed a significant relationship with the pre-test knowledge scores. The study concluded that the structured teaching programme successfully enhanced the knowledge of nursing students regarding needle-stick injuries and post-exposure prophylaxis. Such educational programmes are important for increasing awareness and encouraging safe preventive practices among future healthcare professionals.

Keywords:  Needle-stick injury, post-exposure prophylaxis, sStructured teaching programme, nursing students, knowledge assessment

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Deisenhammer S, Radon K, Nowak D, Reichert J. Needlestick injuries during medical training. J Hosp Infect. 2006;63(3):263–267. doi: 1016/j.jhin.2006.01.019.
2. Jayanth ST, Kirupakaran H, Brahmadathan KN, Gnanaraj L, Kang G. Needle stick injuries in a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2009;27(1):44–47.
3. Naidu RT, Toal P, Mishra SC, Nair B, Shejul YK. Incidence of needlestick injury among healthcare workers in western India. Indian J Med Res. 2023;158(5–6):552–558. doi: 4103/ijmr.ijmr_892_23.
4. Mehta A, Rodrigues C, Ghag S, Bavi P, Shenai S, Dastur F. Needlestick injuries in a tertiary care centre in Mumbai, India. J Hosp Infect. 2005;60(4):368–373. doi: 1016/j.jhin.2004.12.015.
5. Rogers B, Goodno L. Evaluation of interventions to prevent needlestick injuries in health care occupations. Am J Prev Med. 2000;18(4 Suppl):90–98. doi: 1016/S0749-3797(00)00145-8.
6. Trim JC, Elliott TS. A review of sharps injuries and preventative strategies. J Hosp Infect. 2003;53(4):237–242. doi: 1053/jhin.2002.1378.
7. Hanrahan A, Reutter L. A critical review of the literature on sharps injuries: Epidemiology, management of exposures and prevention. J Adv Nurs. 1997;25(1):144–154. doi: 1046/j.1365-2648.1997.1997025144.x.
8. Bell DM. Occupational risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection in healthcare workers: An overview. Am J Med. 1997;102(5B):9–15. doi: 1016/S0002-9343(97)89441-7.
9. Ippolito G, Puro V, De Carli G; Italian Study Group on Occupational Risk of HIV Infection. The risk of occupational human immunodeficiency virus infection in health care workers. Arch Intern Med. 1993;153(12):1451–1458.
10. Yazdanpanah Y, De Carli G, Migueres B, Lot F, Campins M, Colombo C, et al. Risk factors for hepatitis C virus transmission to health care workers after occupational exposure: A European case-control study. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;41(10):1423–1430. doi: 1086/497131.
11. S. Public Health Service. Updated U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2001 Jun 29;50(RR-11):1–52. PMID: 11442229.
12. Kofman AD, Struble KA, Heneine W, Gayle B, de Perio MA, Okasako-Schmucker DL, et al. 2025 US Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus and recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis in healthcare settings. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2025;46(9):863–873. doi: 1017/ice.2025.10254.
13. Gurubacharya DL, Mathura KC, Karki DB. Knowledge, attitude and practices among health care workers on needle-stick injuries. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ). 2003;1(2):91–94.
14. Radha R, Khan A. Epidemiology of needle stick injuries among the health care workers of a rural tertiary care hospital: A cross-sectional study. Natl J Community Med. 2012;3(4):589–594. Available from: https://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/1774
15. Lee LK, Hassim IN. Implication of the prevalence of needlestick injuries in a general hospital in Malaysia and its risk in clinical practice. Environ Health Prev Med. 2005;10(1):33–41. doi: 1265/ehpm.10.33.
16. Salelkar S, Motghare DD, Kulkarni MS, Vaz FS. Study of needle stick injuries among health care workers at a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Public Health. 2010;54(1):18–20. doi: 4103/0019-557X.70540.
17. Reddy VK, Lavoie MC, Verbeek JH, Pahwa M. Devices for preventing percutaneous exposure injuries caused by needles in healthcare personnel. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;11(11): doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009740.pub3.
18. Alhazmi RA, Parker RD, Wen S. Needlestick injuries among emergency medical services providers in urban and rural areas. J Community Health. 2018;43(3):518–523. doi: 10.1007/s10900-017-0446-0