Assessments on HIV-infection risks in clinical situations by medical students – a comparison of surveys from 1994, 1999 and 2004

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.