Medical student experience with AIDS and needle disposal behaviour

Abstract

A survey of medical students at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, was conducted to investigate needle-handling behaviour with HIV positive patients. Recapping a used needle increases the students' risk of a needle stick. There were 160 responses, yielding a response rate of 27.6%. Students placed used needles in the sharps container without recapping the needle significantly more often if they had experience with a patient with AIDS. There was no correlation between personal exposure to contaminated material (being stuck or exposure to other contaminated material) and correct needle disposal behaviour. Women students (single or married) only used increased precautions during sex about one-third of the time, a figure similar to women psychiatric patients. Single male students used increased precautions 41.5% of the time, while married male students used increased precautions 8.7% of the time.