Evaluation of standard precaution training for healthcare trainees

Abstract Introduction: Blood-borne occupational exposure (OBE) has become a major public health problem for healthcare workers globally. Effective education and training on post-exposure management and standard precautions for healthcare trainees, are important measures for reducing OBE and infection rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of OBE and standard precaution training for healthcare trainees. Methods: This study is designed as a randomized controlled study. Healthcare trainees who were undergoing training at the hospital from July 2020 to July 2023 were selected as the research subjects. They were randomized into theoretical teaching group and situational simulation group. The two groups taught the same knowledge using different methods. Both groups were tested the same content before and after the training. Results: The accuracy rates before and after training in different groups were 71.71% and 78.08%, respectively (P<0.001). The lowest accuracy rate before training was for standard precaution knowledge (70.66%), while the highest accuracy rate after training was for OBE follow-up knowledge (82.39%) (P<0.001). The accuracy rate for trainees who experienced OBE was 69.87% before training and 77.11% after training. For trainees who had not experienced OBE, the accuracy rates were 71.38% before training and 77.25% after training. The accuracy rates were higher after training compared to before training, with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the self-protection awareness, knowledge on OBE management, and standard precaution among healthcare trainees were enhanced through the training, and operational content can achieve better results through scenario simulation training.