A 31-item questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.73 was used. Of 575 surgeons invited to participate from three universities and one national annual surgical society between May and July 2007, 430 (75 % ) returned completed forms.
Concern about being infected with blood-borne diseases was more than 70 (from a total score of 100). Only 12.9 % of surgeons always used double gloves. Complete vaccination against HB was done in about 76 % of surgeons and only 56.8 % had checked their HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) level. Older surgeons never used double gloves (P = 0.001).
Iranian surgeons are not aware of the correct percentage of infected patients with and seroconversion rate of blood-borne diseases, do not use double gloves adequately, do not report their needlestick injuries, vaccinate against HB, and check anti-HBs after vaccination. Educational meetings, pamphlets, and facilities must be provided to health care workers, informing them of hazards, prevention, and postexposure prophylaxis to needlestick injuries, vaccination efficacy, and wearing double gloves.