Medical students and infection control: risks and precautions

To investigate factors associated with medical students' use of infection control measures to protect themselves from HIV and other blood-borne infections.

All clinical students in the academic year of 1993-94 at the University of Washington, Seattle, were surveyed on the percent of time they use Universal Precautions (UPs), their sense of control and concern over HIV risk, estimates of occupational HIV risk and career plans.

Responses of 294 students (86%) were studied. Most students use UPs most of the time but only 25% do so universally. Women (88.1%) use UPs more often than men (82.8%). Use of UPs was not related to the factors that actually predict risk of infection: incidence of exposure accidents and prevalence of HIV among patients. UP use was not associated with demographic characteristics of the student, specialty choice or level of concern about HIV. Students with greater sense of control over their risk reported greater use of UP. Those who plan to restrict patient services because of HIV risk use UP less often than others.

Students use UPs but could do more to protect themselves. Infection control among young clinicians may be improved by education about the reality of the risk and the efficacy of precautionary measures.