Blood and body fluid exposures during clinical training: Relation to knowledge of universal precautions

Abstract

To investigate the relation between knowledge of universal precautions and rates of exposure to blood and body fluid during clinical training, a cohort of 155 students was surveyed following training in universal precautions and 18 months later. A total of 127 students (82%) participated; 58 (46%) experienced at least one exposure during the first clinical training year. Knowledge of universal precautions was inversely associated with the frequency of mucous membrane exposures (p = .001); an apparent 'dose- response' effect was evident (one-way analysis of variance: F = 5.2, p = .007). Students are frequently exposed to blood and body fluid during clinical training. Higher levels of retained knowledge about universal precautions are associated with a decreased risk of mucous membrane exposure.