Open Access
Subscription Access
Open Access
Subscription Access
A Study on Awareness of 'Universal (Standard) Precautions' among Interns of J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere
Subscribe/Renew Journal
Objective of the study: To assess the awareness of Universal Precautions among the Interns.
Study design: Questionnaire based cross-sectional study.
Duration of study: June 1st to 7th, 2009.
Participants: Interns of J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka.
Statistical test applied: Proportions.
Materials & methods: A pre-designed and pre-tested, multiple response type questionnaire was used to collect the data for the study.
Results: Total of 136 interns were available for the study. Meaning of universal precautions was known to majority (86.7%) of them. About 87.5% were aware that they are at risk of contracting blood-borne infections. Only 16% believed that it is unsafe to recap the needles after use. 61.7% preferred resuscitation bags over mouth to mouth breathing. About 75% of them perceived that it is essential to apply universal precautions on every patient irrespective of the disease or HIV status.
Conclusion: The awareness of universal precautions was not satisfactory among the study subjects. Therefore there is a great need to enhance their knowledge by orientation programmes at the beginning of internship.
Keywords
- Prüss-Ustün A, Rapiti E,Hutin Y ; Estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to contaminated sharps injuries among health-care workers ; accepted for publication in Am J Ind Med, accessed from www.who.int.org on 2/10/09.
- World health organization, Department of Blood safety and clinical Technology. Health Care Worker Safety 2003;WHO/BCT/03. 11:1-2.
- Govt of Karnataka ,Dept of Health & Family Welfare; PPTCT Recent Advances in STI & HIVAIDS issues; Participant’s manual; 2005;8;57.
- Sridhar MR, Boopathi S, Lodha R, Kabra SK. Standard precautions and post exposure prophylaxis for preventing infections. Ind J Ped. 2004;71:617–26.
- Immunization Practices Advisory Committee. Recommendations for protection against viral hepatitis. MMWR 1985;34:313-24,329-35.
- Kotwal A, Taneja DK. Health care workers and Universal Precautions: Perceptions and Determinants of Non-compliance. Ind J Com Med, 2010;35;4:526-28.
- Roberts C. Universal Precautions; Improving the knowledge of trained nurses , Br J Nurs, 2000;9: 43-47.
- Kermode M, Jolley D, Langkham B, Thomas MS, Holmes W, Gifford SM. Compliance with Universal precautions among health care workers in rural north India. Am J Infect Control,2005;33:27-33.
Abstract Views: 340
PDF Views: 0