Retention of Knowledge and Attitudes Among Students Toward Workplace Accidents in a Hospital Setting: A Pre-Experimental Study

Abstract

Healthcare workers face significant occupational risks, with high prevalence rates of workplace accidents reported globally. These accidents compromise worker well-being and patient care quality. Emergency and intensive care technicians are particularly vulnerable due to the nature of their work; necessitating targeted safety training to mitigate risks. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an educational intervention to increase knowledge and attitudes toward workplace accidents in a hospital setting among emergency care and resuscitation trainees immediately following the intervention and assesses the retention of these skills 1 month after the training. A pre-experimental study was conducted among second- and third-year emergency care and resuscitation trainees at the School of Health Sciences and Techniques of Sousse during the 2024 to 2025 academic year. The intervention included an educational session and interactive workshops on managing work-related accidents in the hospital setting. Knowledge and attitudes were assessed through pre-, post-, and 1-month retention tests using a pretested questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with significance set at p < .05. Among the 67 participants, only 49.3% had received prior training on workplace accidents, and knowledge of risks and preventive measures was generally inadequate at baseline. Post-intervention scores for knowledge and attitudes showed significant improvement. The mean total score in the Retention test at 1 month was higher than pre-training scores but a slight decline from the post-test score. The study reveals gaps in trainees’ knowledge and attitudes on workplace accident prevention among trainees. The intervention effectively improved knowledge and attitudes immediately after training and 1 month later, demonstrating the value of structured educational programs in enhancing trainee competence in hospital safety practices.