{
  "abstract": "Background:: To explore the prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI) among dental health care workers (DHCWs) across different countries and regions worldwide.\n\nMethods:: Observational studies reporting NSI prevalence among DHCWs were included. A meta-analysis was conducted based on data retrieved from 6 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline-Ovid, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Library). The study was registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024598365). The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Begg’s test. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the leave-one-out approach and the trim and fill method. Searches were conducted through October 13, 2024.\n\nResults:: A total of 56 studies comprising 21,481 participants from 27 countries and regions were included, with the reported prevalence ranging from 11.59% (Australia) to 89.17% (Greece). The pooled prevalence of NSI was 44.11% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.01–50.30%) among DHCWs, with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98.77%, P < .001). Subgroup analyses yielded the following pooled prevalences: dentists 49.41% (95% CI: 38.81–60.03%), dental students 43.12% (95% CI: 36.91–49.45%), nurses 40.85% (95% CI: 21.48–61.80%), and other DHCWs 33.75% (95% CI: 14.21–56.73%). This review had substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 98.77%) and was limited by the observational design of included studies.\n\nConclusion:: The prevalence of NSI among DHCWs is relatively high. This issue warrants urgent attention. Safety-engineered devices are recommended as the primary engineering control. Hospital management should establish and improve NSI reporting systems. Training and competency assessment are necessary for all DHCWs. This work was supported by Xuhui District Dental Disease Prevention and Treatment Institute, Shanghai (SHXYF202312).",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Nursing, Laboratory of Dental Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai Xuhui District Stomatological Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China",
    "Department of Endodontics, Laboratory of Dental Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai Xuhui District Stomatological Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China",
    "Department of Science and Education, Laboratory of Dental Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai Xuhui District Stomatological Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China",
    "Office of the President, Laboratory of Dental Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai Xuhui District Stomatological Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiaodan Zhu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Weili Ding"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mao Ye"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ling Zhang",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-0956-940X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Bei Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Min Xing"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Wenhao Qian"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ap609xccvc2n0.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1097/md.0000000000051365",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13727224/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "ap609xccvc2n0",
  "issns": [
    "0304-5412",
    "1536-5964",
    "0025-7974"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13727224",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "4700"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Research Article"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13727224/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13727224",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "Wolters Kluwer Health",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ap609xccvc2n0.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T15:20:51Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13727224",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13727224"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:23:21Z",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000051365"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Global prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries among dental health care workers : A systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "title_text": "Global prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries among dental health care workers : A systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T12:23:21Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ap609xccvc2n0",
  "venue": "Medicine",
  "versions": []
}