rss
Sex Transm Infect 2001;77:444-445 doi:10.1136/sti.77.6.444
  • Short report

Post-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus: knowledge and experience of junior doctors

  1. M Y Chen,
  2. E F Fox,
  3. C A Rogers
  1. Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Trust, London, UK
  1. Dr Marcus Chen, Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, GPO Box 1614, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2001 chenm{at}sesahs.nsw.gov.au
  • Accepted 26 June 2001

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.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.