Open AccessIncidence and characteristics of needlestick injuries among medical trainees at a community teaching hospital: A cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Ouyang Ben,
Dxli Lucy,
Mount Joanne,
Jamal Alainna J,
Berry Lauren,
Simone Carmine,
Law Marcus,
Tai RW Melissa
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1539/joh.15-0253-fs
Subject(s) - incidence (geometry) , cross sectional study , medicine , emergency medicine , teaching hospital , family medicine , physics , pathology , optics
Objectives This field study aimed to determine the incidence and distribution of needlestick injuries among medical trainees at a community teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada. Methods The study was performed during the 2013‐2015 academic years at Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH), a University of Toronto‐affiliated community‐teaching hospital during the 20132015 academic years. Eight‐hundred and forty trainees, including medical students, residents, and post‐graduate fellows, were identified and invited via email to participate in an anonymous online fluidsurveys.com survey of 16 qualitative and quantitative questions. Results Three‐hundred and fifty trainees responded (42% response rate). Eighty‐eight (25%) respondents reported experiencing at least one injury at TEGH. In total, our survey identified 195 total injuries. Surgical trainees were significantly more likely to incur injuries than non‐surgical trainees (IRR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.80‐5.10). Orthopaedic surgery trainees had the highest risk of a needlestick injury, being over 12 times more likely to be injured than emergency medicine trainees (IRR = 12.4, 95% CI 2.1172.32). Only 28 of the 88 most recent needlestick injuries were reported to occupational health. Trainees reported a perception of insignificant risk, lack of resources and support for reporting, and injury stigmatization as reasons for not reporting needlestick injuries. Conclusions Needlestick injuries were a common underreported risk to medical trainees at TEGH. Future research should investigate strategies to reduce injury and improve reporting among the high‐risk and reporting‐averse trainees.