Methods: A self-administrated questionnaire was culturally adapted into Portuguese (Brazil) and circulated among 173 undergraduates at a public university of Sao Paulo State, Brazil (Araraquara School of Dentistry – FOAr/ UNESP). Undergraduates who answered they had suffered at least one occupational accident were interviewed, and each testimony was recorded. Speeches were transcribed and analyzed with the help of the QUALI-QUANTISOFT® software, which enables the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD). Qualitative data were interpreted according to three methodological figures: central ideas, key-expressions and the CSD itself.
Results: Forty-two percent of the students reported the accident immediately, 5.6% reported some time after, and 52% did not report. Almost 41% of the students experienced at least one accident (15.6% had one, 20.3% had 2-6, and 5.1% had more than 10 accidents). Percutaneous injuries predominated (56.3%). Regarding the injured, almost 66% were not with the hands inside the patient's mouth at the time of the accident. In respect to the reasons attributed for accidental exposures, students reported forgetfulness, negligence, work alone, and lack of use of personal protective equipment. Among the feelings experienced at the time of the accident, some reported a lack of concern, or felt uncomfortable about having to do blood tests, and others feared contracting diseases.
Conclusions: Educational strategies for dental students should be provided beyond the teaching of universal precautions to increase notification and to change social representation of the occupational accidents. A more critical thinking in relation to work and health should be constructed to provide a safer practice.