Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany.
Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany.
BMC Med Educ. 2024 Mar 20;24(1):312. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-05309-1.
Needle-stick injuries (NSIs) pose a safety risk for healthcare workers with great potential for serious infections. The aim was to determine numbers and causes of NSIs as well as the frequency with which medical students report NSIs in the final stages of study.
An online questionnaire was developed and made available in January and February 2023 to all undergraduate medical students (n = 423) in the last 1.5 years of their degree course at Würzburg University, Germany.
The response rate was 19.6% (n = 84). Among respondents, 27.4% (n = 23) reported at least one NSI. Occurrence was particularly frequent in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and internal medicine. Assisting with procedures, suturing, and blood sampling were considered high-risk activities. Lack of concentration, distraction, and time pressure played a role in incidents. Respondents did not report 18.8% of NSIs with the main reasons being fear of the consequences, self-assessment of the injury as minor, or the opinion of supervisors that reporting was unnecessary. Students with previous practice on simulators or patients were significantly more likely to suffer NSIs. Instructions from occupational health specialists beforehand correlated with fewer NSIs.
We assume that trained students are more experienced in handling invasive procedures, leading to a greater adoption of corresponding activities and thus an increased risk of injuries in absolute numbers. This does not counter the need for didactic interventions prior to workplace-based training to raise awareness of NSI risks. Simultaneously, concepts must be developed and implemented to support reporting and alleviate fears regarding consequences.
针刺伤（NSI）对医护人员构成安全风险，有发生严重感染的巨大潜在风险。本研究旨在确定 NSI 的数量和原因，以及医学生在学习最后阶段报告 NSI 的频率。
本研究于 2023 年 1 月至 2 月，采用在线问卷的方式，向德国维尔茨堡大学最后 1.5 学年的所有本科医学生（n=423）进行调查。
应答率为 19.6%（n=84）。其中，27.4%（n=23）的学生报告至少发生过一次 NSI。外科、妇产科和内科的 NSI 发生率较高。协助操作、缝合和采血被认为是高风险活动。注意力不集中、分心和时间压力在事件中起作用。受访者未报告 18.8%的 NSI，主要原因是担心后果、自我评估伤害较小，或主管认为报告没有必要。有过模拟或患者操作练习的学生更有可能发生 NSI。接受职业健康专家的预先指导与较少的 NSI 相关。
我们假设，经过培训的学生在处理侵入性操作方面更有经验，从而更频繁地采取相应的活动，因此绝对数量的伤害风险增加。这并不反对在基于工作场所的培训之前进行教学干预，以提高对 NSI 风险的认识。同时，必须制定和实施概念，以支持报告并减轻对后果的恐惧。
