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Adherence to post-exposure follow-up protocol reflects the continuity of care in managing sharps injuries among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of adherence to post-exposure follow-up and its associated factors in a public hospital. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Melaka, Malaysia. All 250 reported sharps injury cases among HCWs were conveniently sampled throughout the period of five years between 2013 to 2017. Data from the Infectious Disease Clinic were extracted and analysed descriptively via multivariate binary logistic regression using IBM SPSS version 22 software. Sharps-injured HCWs were predominantly female (64.4%) with a median age of 26 (IQR 24 to 28) years old, had two years or more of experience (36.8%), status was negative for HIV/HBV/HCV (68.4%) and non-paramedics (84.4%). The prevalence of adherence to follow-up was 36.8%. Paramedics were more adhere to follow-up (56.4%) than the non-paramedics group. The factors that were significantly associated with follow-up adherence were the type of device (p=0.049) and occupation category (p=0.006). Paramedics had 2.66 times the odds of adherence to post-exposure follow-up compared to non-paramedics (95%CI: 1.32, 5.36; p = 0.006) when adjusted for type of devices. Based on our study, paramedics showed a good example of HCWs with a higher prevalence of adherence as compared to non-paramedics. However, the overall prevalence of adherence was still low. Hence, further research on finding the determinants of adherence in a local setting is undoubtedly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular mortality is within the top five causes of death from noncommunicable disease based on World Health Organization profile. Around 20% of heart failure patients are readmitted within 30 days worldwide. Readmission within 30 days for congestive heart failure often related to non-compliant to fluid restriction, natural progression of the disease or pre-mature discharge. The study aims to evaluate the 30 days readmission rate of congestive heart failure in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) from the year 2016-2017 using casemix data and to determine the associated factors related to it. Based on the data coding, cost of readmission incurred was calculated. The 30-days readmission rate of heart failure to UKMMC in the year 2016-2017 was 53.5% & 43.5%, higher than the developed countries standard but similar to that of local teaching hospitals. After adjustment, age and level of severity are the only significant associated factors for the 30-days readmission rate. Shorter average length of stay (ALOS) & lower extra-tariff were achieved for readmission of heart failure. Total of RM80,329.73 was saved in the year 2017 from prompt treatment and comprehensive care plan of treating 19.3% level 3 severity patients at level 1 ALOS and tariff-cost. The 30-days readmission rate for heart failure in UKMMC was comparable to local teaching hospitals. The reduction of 30-days readmission rate in 2017 saved much cost, shows good clinical governance and advanced treatment strategy. Casemix can be used to guide budget allocation for the cardiology department of UKMMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]