Sample infection control needs assessment survey data from eight countries.
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.
Puttaiah
Raghunath
R
Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX 75346, USA. puttaiah.raghunath@gmail.com
Shulman
Jay D
JD
Youngblood
Dennis
D
Bedi
Raman
R
Tse
Edwin
E
Shetty
Sadashiva
S
Almas
Khalid
K
Kim
Byung-Ock
BO
Du
Minquan
M
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