title: Sample infection control needs assessment survey data from eight countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare knowledge, attitudes and practice of standard methods in infection control by dentists in eight countries using a standardised questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaires on dental infection control and safety (IC&S) knowledge, attitudes and practice were distributed to a convenience sample of dentists in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, China, South Korea and the United States of America.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge and practice of infection control among the Asian dentists lagged behind the levels of US dentists. Availability and affordability of equipment and materials were some of the reasons for the practice of infection control and safety. Attitude towards universal/standard precautions in controlling bloodborne pathogens was comparable between groups surveyed. Tested knowledge and practice of infection control was acceptable but the attitude and understanding of universal/standard precautions was ambiguous among both Asian and USA dental practitioners. Education in dental infection control should focus on improving the attitudes of practitioners towards universal precautions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge and practice of dental IC&S was high among the USA respondents. Immunisation and IC & S should be stressed in Asia. Information obtained through this study could be used to plan and implement policies in improving dental infection control and occupational safety in individual countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX 75346, USA. puttaiah.raghunath@gmail.com
authors.forename: Raghunath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puttaiah
authors.forename: Jay D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Youngblood
authors.forename: Raman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Sadashiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Almas
authors.forename: Byung-Ock
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Minquan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010154:Pakistan; D010679:Philippines; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D013785:Thailand; D014481:United States; D016635:Universal Precautions