title: Dental surgery assistants' roles in cross-infection control in general dental practice: their knowledge and use of autoclaves.
abstract: This study investigated dental surgery assistants' (DSAs) role in providing cross-infection control in general dental practice. DSAs' knowledge about using autoclaves and their compliance with the recommended procedures were used as measures. Eighty-nine practices in three districts of the North Western Region of England were approached. Fifty-six agreed to permit the study and DSAs in these practices were observed at work and questioned, a response rate of 63%. Eighteen tasks relating to use of autoclaves (eg correct loading of instruments and correct storage) were observed and knowledge about them was assessed by questioning. Each was scored positively if correctly undertaken and answered. Scores for compliance varied between 2 and 12 and between 3 and 15 in the case of knowledge. In all instances certificated DSAs scored more highly than uncertificated DSAs. The study illustrated the value of certification, background education and membership of a vocational organisation. It supports the belief that all DSAs should be educated to the level of certification and that this improved education and training would improve cross-infection control in general dental practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Surgery, University Dental Hospital of Manchester.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sarll
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires