Awareness of Post-exposure Prophylaxis after Accidental Contact with Body Fluids among Interns at Medical College, Kolkata: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Abstract Introduction: Exposure to body fluids can lead to serious health concerns among healthcare workers. Proper and timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is thus necessary. This study thus assessed the level of awareness of PEP (for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and Hepatitis B) among interns in a tertiary care hospital in West Bengal. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 150 intern healthcare professionals between August and September 2023, at Medical College, Kolkata, in West Bengal, India. All participants completed a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire with items relating to PEP for HIV and hepatitis B. Data entry was conducted using Microsoft Excel (2019), while statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Among 150 participants (92 male and 58 female), the mean age was 23.78 ± 1.055 years. All participants, except one intern nurse, were aware of PEP. Formal training on PEP was received by 70.37% of intern nurses, while only 28.45% of intern doctors. 92.59% of intern nurses, and 56.1% of intern doctors were aware of the reporting and documentation procedures after potential exposure; 53.69% of intern doctors and 51.85% of intern nurses reported feeling “Somewhat confident” in guiding colleagues for effective PEP, and 72% of participants demonstrated adequate knowledge, with intern nurses slightly outperforming compared to intern doctors. The majority of the participants reported completing the recommended hepatitis B vaccination regimen, adhering to universal precautions during procedures, and having no history of accidental exposure. Conclusion: Urgent action is needed to enhance PEP awareness among interns, especially intern doctors, guiding targeted interventions for knowledge improvement.