M Y Chen1, E F Fox, C A Rogers. 1. Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Trust, London, UK. chenm@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of knowledge and experience of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among junior doctors. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all junior doctors working in two major teaching hospitals in London. RESULTS: Most junior doctors had heard of PEP (93%) but fewer were aware that it reduced the rate of HIV transmission (76%). Only a minority of doctors (8%) could name the drugs recommended in recent national guidelines and a significant proportion (43%) could not name any. Almost one third (29%) did not know within what period PEP should be administered. This was despite the fact that the majority of respondents (76%) had experienced high risk exposure to potentially infective material at some stage in their careers and that a significant proportion (18%) had sought advice about PEP following potential exposures. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the junior hospital doctors in our survey had inadequate knowledge of PEP against HIV despite being at risk of occupational exposure.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of knowledge and experience of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among junior doctors. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all junior doctors working in two major teaching hospitals in London. RESULTS: Most junior doctors had heard of PEP (93%) but fewer were aware that it reduced the rate of HIV transmission (76%). Only a minority of doctors (8%) could name the drugs recommended in recent national guidelines and a significant proportion (43%) could not name any. Almost one third (29%) did not know within what period PEP should be administered. This was despite the fact that the majority of respondents (76%) had experienced high risk exposure to potentially infective material at some stage in their careers and that a significant proportion (18%) had sought advice about PEP following potential exposures. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the junior hospital doctors in our survey had inadequate knowledge of PEP against HIV despite being at risk of occupational exposure.
Authors: Oche Mansur Oche; Abubakar Sadiq Umar; Godwin Jiya Gana; Nneka Christina Okafoagu; Remi Abiola Oladigbolu Journal: J Family Med Prim Care Date: 2018 Mar-Apr