Blood and body fluid exposures during clinical training: relation to knowledge of universal precautions.
Authors
Diekema-DJ; Albanese-MA; Schuldt-SS; Doebbeling-BN
Source
J Gen Intern Med 1996 Feb; 11(2):109-111
Abstract
To investigate the relation between knowledge of universal precautions and rates of exposure to blood and body fluid during clinical training, a cohort of 155 students was surveyed following training in universal precautions and 18 months later. A total of 127 students (82%) participated; 58 (46%) experienced at least one exposure during the first clinical training year. Knowledge of universal precautions was inversely associated with the frequency of mucous membrane exposures (p = .001); an apparent "dose-response" effect was evident (one-way analysis of variance; F = 5.2, p = 0.007). Students are frequently exposed to blood and body fluid during clinical training. Higher levels of retained knowledge about universal precautions are associated with a decreased risk of mucous membrane exposure.
Keywords
Universal-precautions; Infection-control; Health-care-personnel; Infectious-diseases; Bloodborne-pathogens
Contact
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Document Type
Journal Article
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-K01-OH-00131
Priority Area
Grants-other
Source Name
Journal of General Internal Medicine
Performing Organization
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
