NIOSH initiated several cooperative agreements to conduct research on sharps disposal containers with the Educational Resource Centers (ERCs) during fiscal years 1992–94. These research agreements provided the environments necessary to study interrelated ergonomic, behavioral, and selection/evaluation variables associated with sharps disposal containers in a variety of health care settings.
Input from focus groups was used to develop this document. Experts or users were recruited to supply information to estimate the likelihood of a situation or event based on their experience. Focus groups were used to obtain user input about sharps disposal container design, safety, and management. Studies conducted by NIOSH ERCs selected health care workers considered at risk of exposure to HIV in a variety of health care settings. The evaluation criteria (identified in the performance evaluation questionnaire of this document) were developed, in part, using focus groups. The use of focus groups provided a rapid and relatively inexpensive measurement tool to identify worker perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes regarding the performance of sharps disposal containers.
References
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