Self-reported percutaneous injuries of students and interns at the School of Dentistry in Trinidad: A follow up study of an updated sharps protocol

Objective To report the results of a survey of all percutaneous injuries that occurred between 2009 – 2014 among students and interns at the dental school in Trinidad and to evaluate compliance with the protocol for the management of percutaneous injuries. Methods Data was collected via questionnaires administered to 186 clinical students and interns in 2012 and 2014. Data were analysed using SPSS® 17.0 Statistical software. Results A 90% response rate was obtained. Forty-eight persons (29%) reported one or more sharps injuries at the dental school. Of the 76 sharps injuries reported, 55 were percutaneous. Needle sticks and burs accounted for the majority of injuries and mostly occurred while working on patients. There were no significant relationships (p>0.05) between sex nor student year with the occurrence of injuries. 76% of the respondents described their concern for contracting blood borne injuries from sharps injuries as “high.” After injury, 41% of the respondents followed the school’s protocol for sharps injuries. Conclusion The prevalence of percutaneous injuries among students and interns at the UWI dental school in Trinidad is 23% and occur most commonly while working on patients. Compliance with the protocol for percutaneous injuries needs to be improved. The protocol needs to be audited to improve efficiency and reinforced to the students, interns and clinical supervisors during their clinical years.