Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding blood exposure accidents and eHealth literacy among Tunisian medical students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Good knowledge, attitudes and practices towards Blood Exposure Accidents (BEA) are essential for their prevention with a significant correlation found between e-health literacy and KAP levels. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) and e-health literacy levels towards BEA and their potential associations among medical students at a Tunisian medical school.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive cross-sectional study among undergraduate medical students at Ibn Al Jazzar Medical School in Sousse, Tunisia, using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. Students' e-health literacy was assessed using the validated French version of the Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS).

Results: A total of 580 medical students were enrolled with a mean age of 21.6 ± 1.2 years and female predominance (sex ratio = 0.36). Most respondents (70%) had received no BEA training, and almost the quarter (24.3%; CI 95%:20.7-27.9%) reported having been victims of BEA. Overall, the mean score of medical students' KAP was 19.98 with almost half (49.1%, CI95%:45-53.2%) achieving a good score. The mean eHEALS score was 28.22 ± 6.85. More than half (55.7%, CI95%:51.7-59.7%) achieved a high level of e-health literacy. Being enrolled in the second cycle of medical studies (AOR = 2.50, 95%CI: 1.40-4.30), and having inadequate knowledge of standard precautions (AOR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.04-2.39) were the predictors of BEA, while having good KAP regarding BEA was a negative determinant (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39-0.89). In addition, having adequate knowledge of standard precautions (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.10-2.23) and having good knowledge of BEA (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.17-2.27) were the determinants of high levels of e-health literacy on BEA. Similarly, being adequately informed about the risks of BEA (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01-2.06) was a positive determinant, whereas having a history of BEA (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43-0.93) was a negative determinant of high levels of KAP.

Conclusion: Medical students showed good levels of e-heath literacy and KAP. E-health literacy appears to play a critical role in preventing BEA by understanding standard precautions and follow-up protocols.