Open AccessBRIEF REPORT: Needlestick Injury and Inadequate Post‐Exposure Practice in Medical Students
Author(s) -
Cervini Patrick,
Bell Chaim
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.746
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1525-1497
pISSN - 0884-8734
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0092.x
Subject(s) - needlestick injury , medicine , occupational exposure , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , emergency medicine , medical emergency
Background: Medical students are at a particularly high risk for needlestick injury and its consequences because of their relative inexperience and lack of disability insurance. Objective: To determine the risk of needlestick injury and the use of post‐exposure prophylaxis among medical students. Design: Internet‐based survey. Participants: The 2003 graduating medical school class at the University of Toronto. Measurements: Number of needlestick injuries, circumstances surrounding those incidents, and post‐exposure actions. Results: The response rate was 88% (157/178). Over one third (55/157) of respondents suffered at least 1 needlestick injury. In more than half the high‐risk injuries, the students continued working and did not seek medical advice. Six students who suffered a needlestick injury began prophylactic human immunodeficiency virus medications. Of those students who suffered an injury, 15% had purchased disability insurance prior to the incident. Conclusions: Poor use of post‐exposure procedures and a lack of disability insurance leave medical students at high risk for career and life‐altering consequences from a needlestick injury.