A study to ascertain law enforcement officers' perceived risk of occupational exposure to HIV and HBV

Police officers are exposed to many incidents that present varying degrees of occupational risk. Police officers expect to perform searches, experience assaults, handle evidence, and possibly render life-saving medical services. The population that engages in high-risk behaviors regarding bloodborne pathogens is over represented within the criminal justice system. Police officers are often confi-onted with the risk of transmission to the bloodborne pathogens human immunodeficiency vims (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV) when dealing with this population. The purpose of this study was to identify the various factors that may influence Knoxville City law enforcement officers’ perceptions of the risk of being occupationally exposed to HIV and HBV.

This study collected data describing 105 Knoxville police officers' demographics and then compared their self- reported level of perceived risk by using four hypothetical case scenarios. The instrument used for this study was developed through the review of a panel of experts and two pilot studies to obtain face validity. It consisted of a two-part questionnaire. The first part included questions about the officers' formal education. experience in law enforcement, training received concerning HfV and HBV, and HBV immunization status. The second part of the questionnaire consisted of four scenarios designed to have an increasing degree of occupational risk. The police officers recorded the degree of perceived risk they felt they would have in these four scenarios. The perceived risk levels were high, moderate, and low. The ordinal data were collapsed into working groups for each of the variables: formal education, training, experience, and HBV immunization status. The Somers’d (yx) association test for two ordinal variables was used to address the research questions. Data were analyzed using SPSSX statistical software.

In conclusion, the investigator found that formal educational level influenced a police officer's level of perceived risk. The other independent variables of experience, training received, and HBV immunization status were not statistically significant. It was suggested in the literature review that education in the form of timely training could increase an officer's level of knowledge and alleviate many occupational fears of HIV and HBV.

Recommendations from this study included hiring officers with more formal education, which in turn could reduce the liability for a police department. The investigator also recommended offering training that compensates for the differences in the formal educational levels of officers. This would include targeting officers with lower levels of education for training intended to help them understand the actual risks of occupational exposure to HIV and HBV. Police officers are an excellent source of information for many high-risk populations, and accurate information concerning the behaviors associated with HIV and HBV may serve to educate many high-risk populations.