Occupational exposures to blood and body fluid: a study of medical students and health professions students in Virginia.

AAOHN J. 2007 Sep;55(9):361-71

Authors: Askew SM

Medical students and health professions students may be at high risk for occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens. This retrospective chart review explored the rates and types of self-reported blood and body fluid exposures among medical students and health professions students at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, to determine an average rate of exposure reported by the student population at EVMS and in Virginia. Students at EVMS reported 126 exposures: 105 were needlestick and sharps injuries and 21 were blood and body fluid exposures. Fifty-one percent of the EVMS students reported not being the original user of the device causing their exposure. Students in Virginia reported 519 exposures. The majority of the exposures occurred in the operating room. Limitations of this study included student curricula not being reviewed and the medical schools' data collection methods not being compared. Student blood and body fluid exposures should be considered a serious and possibly deadly occupational hazard. Students must be deemed competent in basic health care procedures, universal precautions, and suturing techniques before being allowed to assist with or perform patient procedures. PMID: 17896650 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Teaching veterinary clinical pathology to undergraduate students: an integrated European project.

Vet Clin Pathol. 2007 Dec;36(4):336-40

Authors: Cerón JJ, Braun JP, Gaál T, Godeau JM, Knottenbelt CM, Larkin HA, Lubas G, Moritz A, Papasouliotis K, Sankari SM

BACKGROUND: Veterinary clinical pathology is a relatively new and emerging discipline in Europe that has gained momentum with the recent establishment of a specialty college. In this situation, veterinary faculties may face challenges in understanding and defining what clinical pathology is and how it can best be integrated into existing curricula. In addition, many schools in Europe may not yet have available a critical mass of suitably qualified faculty capable of teaching in all areas of clinical pathology. OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this report is to describe the goals, procedures adopted, teaching material produced, and proposed future activities of a major European initiative designed to develop a veterinary clinical pathology curriculum. METHODS: Four working subgroups were formed to establish a list of course objectives and topics and prepare a series of lectures. These contents were reviewed and discussed several times at a series of general meetings. RESULTS: An undergraduate course on veterinary clinical pathology was designed with course objectives, a list of topics and a CD-ROM consisting of 24 lectures. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this project could be useful in the establishment or improvement of training programs in veterinary clinical pathology at the undergraduate level in Europe and in other places around the world. The provision of teaching resources for faculty could help to instill in veterinary students a strong understanding of the discipline and promote development of advanced training programs and career opportunities in clinical pathology in Europe. PMID: 18041698 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Survey of Pacific Egg and Poultry Association Scholarship Recipients (1965-1994).

Poult Sci. 2002 May;81(5):618-20

Authors: Bradley FA, McCrea BA

The Scholarship and Research Foundation of the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association, a West Coast trade association, began awarding scholarships in 1965. The scholarship program was established as a means of rewarding high scholastic performance and encouraging careers in the poultry industries. A survey was conducted of the 1965 to 1994 recipients. During the 30-yr period, the association awarded 513 scholarships. Alumni association offices in western Canada and the United States were able to provide current mailing addresses for 312 of the recipients. A letter was sent to each former recipient requesting information on postdegree career paths. Responses were received from 104 or 33.3% of the individuals. Initial career choices and current occupations were tabulated. Broad occupational choices were categorized as poultry, agriculturally related nonpoultry, nonagricultural, still in school, or unknown. Poultry-related careers were categorized by more specific job definitions: live production, allied industry, extension, research/teaching faculty, and veterinary medicine. The poultry industries attracted 52.9% of the recipients for their first postdegree job. Currently, 50.0% of the recipients are employed by the poultry industries. Of those, 36.5% are in live production, 19.2% in allied industry, 5.8% in extension, 17.3% in research/teaching, and 21.1% in veterinary medicine. PMID: 12033409 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Occupation as a risk factor for uveal melanoma in Germany.

Scand J Work Environ Health. 2002 Aug;28(4):270-7

Authors: Monárrez-Espino J, Stang A, Bromen K, Merzenich H, Anastassiou G, Jöckel KH

OBJECTIVE: This study explored occupational risks linked to uveal melanoma. METHODS: The analysis pooled data from two case-referent studies (hospital- and population-based) conducted in Germany between 1995 and 1998, with incident cases matched with several referents by age, gender, and region of residence. The subjects were contacted through personal or telephone interviews. Their exposure status was based on their occupational history. Dichotomous coding for the main task and categorization into different occupational classification systems was performed. Altogether of 118 cases and 475 referents were included. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Relevant occupations included food, beverage, and tobacco processors [odds ratio (OR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.99-22.0] and miners (OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.92-5.99) among the men and station, engine and heavy equipment operators and freight handlers (OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.94-6.58) and medical, dental, pharmaceutical and veterinary workers (OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.71-6.02) among the women according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations, whereas, according to the European Industrial Classification, the relevant occupations were the food industry (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.08-10.5) and the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.01-7.78) among the men and machine production (OR 3.2, 95% CI 0.96-10.7) and health and veterinary sector (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.97-5.71) among the women. CONCLUSIONS: These analyses support the potential role of occupational exposure as a risk factor for uveal melanoma. The findings must be interpreted carefully since the exposure was assessed indirectly. PMID: 12199429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A profession at the crossroads?

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003 Feb 15;222(4):415-6, 419

Authors: Nolen RS PMID: 12597407 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Six barriers to veterinary career success.

J Vet Med Educ. 2003;30(1):1-4

Authors: Burge GD PMID: 12735308 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Models for teaching career development and practice management.

J Vet Med Educ. 2004;31(2):168-74

Authors: Lloyd JW, Bristol DG, Draper DD, McManus JP, Neer CA, Bonvicini KA PMID: 15181600 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]