Occupational Injuries and Infection Risk Among Senior Medical Students: A Four-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Workplaces present health and safety risks, especially for healthcare workers, such as medical students, who face a variety of hazards. Despite acquiring skills during medical school, medical faculty students, especially those engaged in patient-related practices, face increased injury risks due to factors such as lack of knowledge, insufficient practice, and high workload. This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of occupational injuries among final-year medical students of Uludag University Faculty of Medicine. Methods A cross-sectional study analyzed injuries from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022. Data were collected from records, including demographic details, injury specifics, and students’ post-injury attitudes. Results In this period, 395 senior students experienced 456 injuries, with prevalence rates of 33.9%, 20.7%, 22.6%, and 30.4% from 2019 to 2022, respectively. The majority (60.7%) were female, and injuries were most common in the Emergency Department (64.9%), predominantly affecting the Hand/Finger (87.7%). Of the 395 students, three were HbsAg positive, 13 anti-HbS negative, one anti-HCV positive, and one anti-HIV positive. Considering the potential window period, only 18% of students gave control blood after 456 injuries. Conclusion The study focuses on the prevalence and characteristics of occupational injuries among senior medical students. The findings indicate that healthcare workers require better training, increased awareness of injury prevention, and regular screening for bloodborne diseases. Conducting blood tests after the appropriate window period is crucial to ensure early diagnosis and treatment following an injury.