Hospital-based needlestick use and injuries by Dublin interns in 2010.

BACKGROUND: Needlestick injuries (NSI) remain an occupational hazard for doctors. Previous reports suggested that needlestick practice among interns could be improved. AIMS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.