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Medical students' risk of infection with bloodborne viruses at home and abroad: questionnaire survey.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To determine risks of exposure to and prevention of bloodborne virus infections among medical students during their elective period. DESIGN:Questionnaire study of students returning from their electives in 1997-8. SETTING:Urban teaching hospital. SUBJECTS:220 final year medical students. RESULTS:148 students (67%) returned questionnaires; all had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. 65 respondents (44%) had visited areas of relatively high endemicity for HIV, although 27 (42%) of these, all of whom had visited areas other than sub-Saharan Africa, were unaware of this. All but one had discussed their elective with advisers. Four students experienced percutaneous or mucosal exposure to potentially infectious body fluids, three in areas with a high prevalence of HIV infection. 44 respondents (30%) had experienced at least one such exposure during their clinical training; 75% of these exposures were unreported. 34% (13/38) students who visited areas known to have a high prevalence of HIV infection took with them a starter pack of zidovudine for post-exposure prophylaxis; 53% (20) took latex gloves and 63% (24) a medi-kit. None of the 27 students who were unaware that the areas they visited had a relatively high prevalence of HIV infection took zidovudine; only 15% (4) took gloves and 30% (8) a medi-kit. CONCLUSIONS:Medical schools should produce, regularly update, and implement guidelines regarding protection from bloodborne viruses during clinical studies, including electives. Education and training in infection control should start at the earliest opportunity.

SUBMITTER: Gamester CF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC27693 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Medical students' risk of infection with bloodborne viruses at home and abroad: questionnaire survey.

Gamester C F CF Tilzey A J AJ Banatvala J E JE

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 19990101 7177

<h4>Objective</h4>To determine risks of exposure to and prevention of bloodborne virus infections among medical students during their elective period.<h4>Design</h4>Questionnaire study of students returning from their electives in 1997-8.<h4>Setting</h4>Urban teaching hospital.<h4>Subjects</h4>220 final year medical students.<h4>Results</h4>148 students (67%) returned questionnaires; all had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. 65 respondents (44%) had visited areas of relatively high endemicity ...[more]

PMID: 9888908

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Project description:Little research addresses how medical students develop their choice of specialty training in crisis and resource-poor settings. The newly graduated medical students determine the future of the healthcare system. This study aims to elucidate the factors influencing Syrian medical students' specialty selection and students' intentions to study abroad.A cross-sectional study carried out at the universities of Damascus, Al-Kalamoon and the Syrian Private University in Syria using self-administered questionnaire to investigate medical students' specialty preferences and plans for career future. The questionnaire included questions about students' demographic and educational characteristics, intention to train abroad, the chosen country for training.Randomly selected 450 students completed the questionnaire. The two most common specialties selected were general surgery (27.6%) and internal medicine (23.5%). The most influencing factors on their decision were 'flexibility of specialty' (74.8%) and 'Better work opportunities after specializing' (69.1%). Most participants stated that they are interested in specializing abroad outside Syria (78.7%). The two most common countries of choice were Germany (35.5%) and the United States of America (24.6%). Acquiring a visa to the foreign country was the most common obstacle of specializing abroad (n?=?186, 53.6%). Male gender, having a previous clinical training abroad, and having friends or relatives living abroad were significant factors in predicting students' interest in specializing abroad.Internal medicine and surgery are the most reported specialties of choice in this study and most of the participants reported intentions to study abroad. Their specialty preferences are influenced by both familiar epidemiological and war-driven factors. These data can be useful to design further cohort study to understand the war-related affecting factors on students' plans for their career in the effort of improving the balance of healthcare system in Syria.

Dataset Information

Medical students' risk of infection with bloodborne viruses at home and abroad: questionnaire survey.

Publications

Medical students' risk of infection with bloodborne viruses at home and abroad: questionnaire survey.

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