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Abstract #150813

Joerg Klewer, MD PhD¹, Sabine Twork, MD PhD², Harald Seelbach, MD PhD³, and Joachim Kugler, MD PhD². (1) Dept. of Public Health and Nursing Science, University of Applied Science Zwickau, Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 2a, Zwickau, 08056, Germany, (2) Department of Health Sciences/Public Health, Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstr. 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany, 0049-351-458 5018, sabine_twork@hotmail.com, (3) Public Health, University of DResden, Fetscherstr. 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany

To prevent occupational HIV infections in medical students, comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS is essential. During the previous years, several efforts were done to improve the knowledge of medical students in preventing HIV infections and appropriate care fore HIV patients. Therefore, the study tried to investigate how medical students assess the risk of occupational HIV-infections, and whether these assessments have changed from 1994 to 2004. By using the same standardized anonymous questionnaire in samples of medical students (n=263) in 1994, 1999 and 2004, the assessments on HIV transmission risks in clinical situations of the three surveys have been compared. Furthermore, the knowledge of the students on the procedure after exposure to infectious materials was analyzed. In general, little changes in the assessments on HIV transmission risks from 1994 to 2004 have been found. In situations like physical examination, changing infusion bottles the HIV infection risk was seen as low. Situations like placing an i.v. drip or changing wound dressings were classified as situations with high HIV infection risks. The percentage of students knowing whom to contact after exposure to infectious materials increased from 55% to 71%. It became obvious, that within ten years the assessments by medical students on occupational HIV transmission risks did not change considerably. Almost 20 years after the onset of the HIV pandemic the risks of HIV transmission were still assessed incorrectly. Medical education should consider this and increase the efforts to educate medical students in HIV infections risks, infection control, and adequate care for HIV patients.

Learning Objectives:

• The presentation reflects the lack of changes in incorrect assessments on HIV-transmission risks in clinical situations by medical students during the previous 10 years. After the presentation the participants should be informed about the problem in medical education, that the way of education medical students in HIV/ AIDS was not successful.
• Due to the global increase of sexually acquired infections and HIV/ AIDS, research on assessments on occupational HIV-transmission risks by medical students is essential. Up to now, data about is topic is rare. By presenting this topic on the APHA Meeting we would like to broaden the knowledge about the problems in educating medical students. Additionally, by discussing the results with other experts on this field, new strategies to manage the problem of insufficient education on HV / AIDS especially in medical students can be developed.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Health Workers Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.