Knowledge and Awareness Survey about Universal Safety Precautions among Undergraduate Medical and Dental Students
Aim: Although crucial in prevention and transmission of bloodborne infections (BBI), the concept of universal safety precautions (USP) is disregarded by the medical professionals in their early career years, mainly due to the lack of knowledge and awareness regarding the same. This study, through a questionnaire survey, aimed to assess the awareness of the 1st year medical and dental students about USP and its application in daily practice. Materials and methods: A questionnaire-based survey consisting of 12 questions on USP was given to the students to fill. An interventional lecture with interactive sessions was conducted for the students to educate them about USP. The same set of questions was again provided to the students one week after the lecture. Results: Out of the 210 participants that were included, 63% were unaware of USP. Eighty-three percent of the students did not adhere to proper barrier protections like gloves, gowns, and goggles and 56% did not handle sharps such as needles and blades correctly. These results showed a significant improvement when assessed after the interventional lecture. Conclusion: The knowledge of students regarding USP is inadequate. The interventional lecture and interactive sessions helped increase their awareness of USP. Clinical significance: The importance of teaching USP to medical and dental students in their early years of professional career for preventing transmission of BBI is highlighted in this study.