AIDS and prehospital personnel: knowledge and prevention of occupational exposure

Prehospital personnel, including law enforcement officers, paramedics, and fire-fighters, may be exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while working. This study of prehospital personnel sought to determine: 1) their knowledge of the acquired immune syndrome (AIDS) and HIV transmission; 2) the extent of AIDS training received; 3) self-assessment of risk for HIV infection; and 4) precautions adopted to reduce occupational risk of exposure to HIV.

A survey was administered to pre-hospital personnel in a large Southern California jurisdiction. The response rate was 41% (n = 1,756) in 10 city and county departments where respondents were employed. Law enforcement officers (44%), firefighters (44%), and paramedics (12%) comprised the sample.

Respondents had accurate knowledge about AIDS, but incorrect perceptions about HIV transmission. A minority believed that HIV could be contracted from casual contact. Training relating to AIDS was not frequent. Preventive practices were infrequent in the work setting, with precautions used less than 50% of the time on eight of 10 measures. One-third of these prehospital personnel assessed their risk for HIV infection as medium to high, largely attributable to fear of occupational exposure.

Improved educational programs regarding HIV/AIDS are needed for prehospital personnel to increase the use of preventive occupational practices in the field.