A survey of cross-infection control procedures: knowledge and attitudes of Turkish dentists.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of Turkish dentists in Samsun City regarding cross-infection control.


METHODS
A questionnaire was designed to obtain information about procedures used for the prevention of cross-infection in dental practices and determine the attitudes and perceptions of respondent dental practitioners to their procedures. The study population included all dentists in the city of Samsun, Turkey, in April 2005 (n=184). The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of infection control procedures, sterilization, wearing of gloves, mask, use of rubber dam, method of storing instruments and disposal methods of contaminated material, etc. Questionnaire data was entered into a computer and analyzed by SPSS statistical software.


RESULTS
From the 184 dentists to whom the questionnaires were submitted, 135 participated in the study (overall response rate of 73.36%). As much as 74.10% dentists expressed concern about the risk of cross-infection from patients to themselves and their dental assistants. Forty-three percent of the participants were able to define 'cross-infection' correctly. The greatest majority of the respondents (95.60%) stated that all patients have to be considered as infectious and universal precautions must apply to all of them. The overall responses to the questionnaire showed that the dentists had moderate knowledge of infection control procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved compliance with recommended infection control procedures is required for all dentists evaluated in the present survey. Continuing education programs and short-time courses about cross-infection and infection control procedures are suitable to improve the knowledge of dentists.
Yüzbasioglu
Emir
E
Department of Prosthodontics, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. emiryuzbasioglu@hotmail.com
Saraç
Duygu
D
Canbaz
Sevgi
S
Saraç
Y Sinasi
YS
Cengiz
Seda
S
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003770:Dental Offices; D018057:Dental Waste; D003815:Dentists; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004497:Education, Dental; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011331:Private Practice; D016733:Rubber Dams; D013039:Specialties, Dental; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D014421:Turkey; D016635:Universal Precautions
D018057:Dental Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal