Incidence and factors associated with sharps injuries among clinical-track students at the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University School of Dentistry
Description
Sharp injuries are a common occupational hazard in dental practice, due to the constant handling of sharp or pointed instruments capable of piercing the skin or mucous membranes and exposing staff to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids. The objective of this observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with sharp injuries among students in the clinical rotation at the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University School of Dentistry during the period from May to August 2026. The study population consisted of 158 students, who were administered a previously validated questionnaire assessing the frequency of accidents, the number of incidents, the clinical areas and levels involved, the times of occurrence, the instruments involved, and the actions taken following the accident. The results showed that 93 students (58.9%) had suffered at least one sharp injury and that a significant proportion experienced recurrent injuries. The clinical areas with the highest incidence were the Operative dentistry and Oral Surgery, primarily during instrument cleaning and patient care. Anesthesia needles, probes, and files were the instruments most frequently involved. Although most students washed the affected area and applied antiseptics, reporting the accident and undergoing testing or prophylactic measures were rare. No statistically significant association was found between clinical level and the occurrence of accidents (p = 0.302). It is concluded that the high frequency of accidents and the low reporting rate highlight the need to strengthen prevention practices and post-exposure management during clinical training. The information obtained provides a basis for designing institutional strategies aimed at improving occupational safety for dental students.
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Steps to reproduce
The data were collected using a structured, previously validated questionnaire administered digitally via Google Forms to students in the clinical program at the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University School of Dentistry during the period from May to August 2026. The questionnaire included questions on the frequency and recurrence of sharps injuries, the clinical areas and levels involved, the timing of occurrences, the instruments involved, and post-injury behavior. Subsequently, the responses were exported to Microsoft Excel, where the data were coded, cleaned, and organized. The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics using absolute and relative frequencies, as well as Pearson’s chi-square test to assess the association between clinical level and the occurrence of sharps injuries, using a significance level of p < 0.05. This workflow enabled the generation of the results and tables presented in the study.
Institutions
- Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez UreñaNacional, Santo Domingo