DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2018.v05i08.001

Pages: 393-404

One of the most serious threats to Dental students, which they face during their clinical training, is the possibility of exposure to blood borne pathogens by Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) as they work in a limited-access and restricted-visibility field and frequently use sharp devices. To assess the knowledge, awareness and practice regarding sharp injuries among post graduate and intern students of a dental college in Lucknow, India. 150 participants comprising of 90 post graduate students from various specialties of the dentistry (Orthodontics-15, Endodontics-17, Prosthodontics-18, Oral surgery-7, Oral medicine-4, Periodontics-13, Pedodontics-7, Community medicine-9) and 60 interns students were included in the study. The pretested structured questionnaire was comprised of forty questions, twenty five questions to elicit the level of knowledge and awareness and fifteen questions to elicit the practice towards the sharp injuries. Most of the students had adequate knowledge and awareness regarding NSI’s but they were not practicing the universal precautions and biomedical waste management rules for sharp disposal.Intern students had more NSI as compared to postgraduate dental students. The main cause of injury was endodontic files during endodontic treatment, orthodontic wires followed by explorer, scalpel blade, hollow needle, burs and extraction instrument. Dental students required appropriate training and teaching regarding biomedical waste management and should be encouraged to report NSIs to concerned authority, setting up an NSI management center in dental hospital, as well as follow up of the injured individuals also required.