Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Protocol After Needle Stick Injury among Medical Students

Abstract

Needle stick injuries are more prominent among health care professionals, and it can be defined as a wound of percutaneous piercing by a needle point or other sharp instruments and objects. Needle stick injury (NSI) is a significant risk towards the transmission of pathogens and diseases. This present study was aimed to assess the knowledge, awareness and prevalence of NSI among medical students. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among the medical students (104 student). The questionnaire was distributed through an online survey google forms among medical students to assess their knowledge and awareness towards the NSI.  SPSS software was used to analyze the collected data. The Pearson Chi-square test was done in association with the year of study of the respondents. The survey results showed that 60.7% of the students were aware of the disease caused by the NSI, 35.5% students were aware of the measures to be taken when NSI occurs, 63.6% of the students said single handed technique is safe for needle recapping. The chi-square analysis showed that there is no association between the year of study and awareness on the protocol to be followed after NSI. The study revealed that knowledge about NSI and the preventive measures among medical students was inadequate. Hence, it is utmost important to make the medical students aware of the protocol for NSI and to train them on that.