A Study on Awareness of 'Universal (Standard) Precautions' among Interns of J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere

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.