title: Willingness of dentists in Jordan to treat HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Reluctance of dentists to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients represents a major concern. Many efforts have been extended towards the documentation of the extent of this reluctance and speculation of factors that influence it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assess the willingness of dentists in Jordan to treat HIV-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty-two general dental practices were surveyed for their willingness to provide treatment of toothache and routine dental care of an HIV-infected individual.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 15% of the dental practices were willing to provide such care. Willingness to provide treatment did not seem to be influenced by financial factors or the local prevalence of HIV disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present data suggest that HIV-infected individuals will have difficulty in obtaining dental health care in Jordan.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Medical, Surgical and Diagnostic Services, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, London, UK. elmaaytah@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Maaytah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Kayed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Qudah
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Ahmad
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moutasim
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Dabbagh
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jerjes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Khawalde
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abu Hammad
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dar Odeh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El-Maaytah
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al Shmailan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D016079:Refusal to Treat