title: Hospital-based needlestick use and injuries by Dublin interns in 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Needlestick injuries (NSI) remain an occupational hazard for doctors. Previous reports suggested that needlestick practice among interns could be improved.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to report the current occupational sharp practice and experience amongst a modern cohort of Irish interns.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-designed questionnaire was distributed among interns at two Dublin-based teaching hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one interns completed a self-designed questionnaire. Notably, only 26% routinely wore gloves when performing phlebotomy like tasks; 35% considered their training adequate; 26% had suffered a NSI within the first 8 months of work--over half occurred between 0000 and 0800 hours. There was a higher rate of reporting NSI than in historical reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements have been made in occupational health management of NSI. However, practical preparation for internship continues to remain a concern. Efforts are needed to reduce unnecessary risk of suffering a NSI among our junior doctors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Adelaide and Meath Incorporating National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Seoighe
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: O'Daly
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018962:Phlebotomy; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult