Contamination incidents among doctors and midwives: reasons for non-reporting and knowledge of risks

A 6-month retrospective self-administered questionnaire study of 482 doctors and 380 midwives in two NHS Trusts was undertaken. The response rate was 384 (80%) and 293 (77%) respectively. The study revealed that only nine per cent of doctors and 46% of midwives had reported the contamination incidents they had received. The doctors' main reason for non-reporting was 'too time consuming' and midwives' was 'did not consider anything could be done', although their awareness of the active management of contamination incidents by occupational health departments was good. Seventy-seven per cent of doctors and 69% of midwives underestimated the risk of contracting hepatitis B virus from a needlestick injury, whilst 52% of doctors and 36% of midwives underestimated the risks of acquiring infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection following such an injury. Strategies for improving the knowledge of the potential risks of contamination incidents and methods for facilitating ease of reporting are discussed.