
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Smith, Philippa 
A1  - Drummond, Christina 
A1  - Woolley, Ian 
T1  - Occupational exposures experienced by medical students during overseas electives
JF  - Healthcare Infection
JO  - Healthcare Infection
Y1  - 2006
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
SP  - 123
EP  - 133
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HI06123 
N2  - 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. 
ER  -

