English summary: HOW FINNISH SURGEONS PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST DISEASES SPREAD BY BLOOD CONTAMINATION

Background

A surgeon can be infected by a blood-borne virus during an operation. Therefore, surgeons have started to protect themselves by using double gloving and eye protection in operations, and also by taking a hepatitis B vaccination. The frequency of the use of these methods has not been reported before in Finland.

Method

During a meeting of the operative fields in Helsinki in November 2003, surgeons were invited to fill up a questionnaire including demographic questions and specific questions about the use of double gloving, eye protection and hepatitis B vaccination.

Results

213 surgeons filled in the questionnaire. Double gloving was used by 54.8% and eye protection by 24.3% of the surgeons. Their use was dependent on the phase of the specialisation and on the sex of the surgeon but not on the frequency of glove perforation in their specialty. 86.6% of surgeons who filled in the questionnaire had taken a hepatitis B vaccination.

Conclusion

Protection against blood-borne diseases among surgeons is common but not extensive.