
%0 Journal Article
%A Smith, Philippa 
%A Drummond, Christina 
%A Woolley, Ian 
%T Occupational exposures experienced by medical students during overseas electives
%J Healthcare Infection
%D 2006/12/01
%V 11
%N 4
%P 123-133
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/HI06123
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HI06123 
%X The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of occupational exposure to potentially-infected body fluids experienced by Australian medical students on elective rotations overseas. This was a retrospective study, using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire given to final year medical students enrolled at Monash University in 2003, who had completed their medical elective programme overseas between November 2002 and July 2003. A total of 56 (67%) of the 84 students returned their questionnaires. Seven students (12.5% of those who returned completed questionnaires) reported sustaining occupational exposure to potentially-infected fluids during their elective. Twenty two (39%) of the students perceived that exposure to blood-borne viruses was the greatest risk to their health and safety while on elective. Only 21 (37%) of the students knew that their elective institution had a policy for the management of needlestick injuries. Of the 34 students who travelled to developing nations, 10 (29%) took a starter kit of Human Immunodeficiency Virus post-exposure prophylaxis (HIV-PEP) medications with them. Australian medical students are at a moderately high risk of sustaining occupational exposures to potentially infected fluids while on overseas electives. Multiple targets for risk minimisation were identified. 
