Improvement of knowledge, attitude, belief and practices on mercury spillage management among health care workers after an educational program

Ameerah Su’ad Abdul Shakor¹, Ruzanaz Syafira Ruzman Azlee¹, Muhammad Alfatih Pahrol¹, Nadia Mohamad¹, Syahidiah Syed Abu Thahir¹, Rosnawati Muhamad Robat², Normazura Mustapa³, Thahirahtul Asma Zakaria⁴, Sirajuddin Hashim⁴, Norlen Mohamed⁴, Rafiza Shaharudin¹

1. Environmental Health Research Center, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

2. Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Selangor State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, No 1 Wisma Sunway, Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah C 9/C, Seksyen 9, 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

3. Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Malacca State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Business City, Melaka International Trade Centre, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia.

4. Disease Control Division, Occupational and Environmental Health Sector, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Complex E, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62590 Putrajaya, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author: Ameerah Su’ad Abdul Shakor, Environmental Health Research Center, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CITATION: Abdul Shakor AS, Ruzman Azlee RS, Pahrol MA, Mohamad N, Thahir SSA, Muhamad Robat R, et al. Improvement of knowledge, attitude, belief and practices on mercury spillage management among health care workers after an educational program. International Medical Research Journal. 2023 Jun;9(1):36–56.

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ABSTRACT
Health care workers (HCWs) may be exposed to mercury in situations such as mercury spillage from broken thermometers and sphygmomanometers. However, if proper clean up measures are taken, the risk of mercury poisoning is low. The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess the knowledge, attitude, belief and practices (KABP) among HCWs on mercury spillage management; 2) apply an educational program regarding the appropriate mercury  spillage handling; 3) assess the improvement of KABP levels among HCWs after the program. An interventional study was conducted in nine hospitals and 63 health clinics across Selangor and Malacca, from September 2017 until February 2019. The KABP levels of the HCWs were measured before and, six months after the educational program was conducted. The program consisted of a series of lectures, demonstration video and simulation training. The assessment was performed using a validated self-administered questionnaire and all responses were kept anonymous. KABP levels before and after the program were then compared using chi-square test. The total study population showed a significant improvement in the knowledge (p<0.001), attitude (p=0.001) and practice (p<0.001) levels after the program. Improvement in the belief level was however not statistically significant (p=0.093). Our study highlights the need for an enhanced training module in mercury spillage management to ensure that HCWs are capable of handling the hazardous waste correctly. The results showed that, our educational program was effective and therefore could be applied in healthcare facilities to improve HCWs competency on mercury spillage management.

KEYWORDS: Waste Management, Occupational Safety, Education, Community Trial, KAP