Cross-infection control: the role of "in-training" dental nurses.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reports the findings of a study on the roles of dental nurses in cross-infection control in general dental practices and who were undergoing training for their initial certificate. The research aimed to find out what factors in their vocation gave them satisfaction, what caused stress and the bearing of these factors on cross-infection control. The study complemented previous research on the same matters carried out face-to-face in dental practices and aimed to test the validity of this previous research.


METHODS
The study was made anonymously by means of self-administered questionnaires completed by respondents attending evening classes.


RESULTS
Sixty per cent of respondents reported suffering anxiety in their work, the list of causes being headed by lack of experience, language barriers and taking part in general anaesthetic sessions. A third thought their workload was too great and a third quoted lack of time as the reason for not always completing cross-infection control procedures. Half were worried about cross-infection control. Clinical work was the most, and adequate pay the least important of five factors that gave respondents satisfaction in their work. Respondents always welcomed a word of thanks from their dentists and relied on them for information about their tasks.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to carry out their work thoroughly, uncertificated dental nurses need sufficient time. They benefit from support and encouragement from their dentist. These are important factors in cross-infection control so that stress is prevented and job satisfaction enhanced. Our two studies validate each other.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Surgery, University of Manchester Dental School, UK.
D W
DW
Sarll
J H
JH
Jones
M A
MA
Ashton
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload