RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Safety on elective: a survey on safety advice and adverse events during electives
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 154
OP 156
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.6-2-154
VO 6
IS 2
A1 Sandhya Tyagi
A1 Sally Corbett
A1 Mark Welfare
YR 2006
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/6/2/154.abstract
AB The risk of students contracting HIV on electives has received much coverage. Few data exist, however, on risks of other adverse events. Medical schools gave comprehensive advice on infectious disease but little on personal safety. There were no reported parenteral infections or deaths from infection, despite cases of malaria and one needle-stick injury. Accidents were responsible for six deaths and three serious injuries from just nine medical schools. A further student committed suicide after return to the UK. Personal violence and events related to the political situation of the elected country were also reported. This paper is based on a retrospective survey of elective convenors from UK medical schools examining advice given and adverse events. Accidents appear to pose significant risk to medical students on elective and there appears to be a lack of advice on personal safety issues. Further research should examine behaviours that put students at risk of accidents, and strategies that could prevent such events.