Attached
Objectives: To determine the knowledge regarding laboratory safety precautions amongst Allied Health Sciences
students a t the University o f Sri Jayewardenepura
M ethods; Cross-septiOnal study o f Allied Health Sciences students was conducted using a standardized, 60-item
structured self-administered questionnaire which enquired about knowledge, attitude and practices regarding
laboratory safety precautions. The questionnaires were administered to a batch o f 229 students. Descriptive statistics
was generated uSing SPSS 16th version. Students scoring >75,74-60,50-59 and ^19 were classified as “excellent”,
“good”, “moderate” and “poor” respectively.
Results: Participants included the students from B.Pharm 36.7% (n=84), B.Sc, (Medical Laboratory Sciences/MLS)
45.4% (n=104) and B.Sc. (Nursing) 17.9% (n=41), degree programs. Students’ overall knowledge towards the
laboratory safety precautions is as follows; excellent 7.4% (n=17), good 27.5% (n=63), moderate 22.7% (n=52) and
poor 42.4% (n=97). In general, students had a “good” knowledge in relation to safety laboratory practices, personal
protective equipments, traceability and waste disposal. Knowledge regarding gas, chemical storage and glassware
hazards was “moderate”. But their awareness was “poor” regard to safety equipments, emergency procedures, health
awareness, laboratory equipments and instruments. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed among the
degree programs: B.Pharm: excellent i.2% (n=l), good 10.7% (n=9), moderate 23.8% (n=20), B.Sc (MLS):
excellent 15.4% (n=16), good 49% (n=51), moderate 18.3% (n=19) and B.Sc (Nursing); good 7.3% (n=3), moderate
31.7% ( n - 13). But there was no significant difference observed among the students belonginng to different
academic years o f their Degree program.
Conclusions: The knowledge on laboratory safety precautions amongst Allied Health Sciences students are
inadequate.
