title: Comparison of knowledge, attitudes and practice of dental safety from eight countries at the turn of the century.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare infection control (IC) knowledge, attitudes and practice of dentists across eight countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered infection control surveys were completed by 1,874 clinicians in eight countries. Practitioner's knowledge, attitudes, and practice of infection control were examined using over 100 variables. Chi-squared statistics (α = 0.05) were used to compare respondents from different national groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunizations rates varied significantly across the eight countries (p < 0.01) with Asian countries having a lower rate of immunization against HBV than the United States practitioners. Perceived risk of acquiring HIV varied significantly across the study groups (p < 0.01); China had the lowest portion (75%). Dentists in the US reported 92% surface barrier use; only 15% in China reported use. Only 58% of practitioners in Pakistan reportedly used disposable exam gloves; 97% of US practitioners regularly use these gloves. For all groups assessed, including the United States, little over 50% of practitioners understood and practiced Universal/Standard (UP/SP) precautions effectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analyses from this study suggest that the dental IC knowledge and practice varied widely across the eight countries of interest. Many of the countries were found to have barriers to access IC materials. Results indicate that all eight countries could use improved education standards for universal precautions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge, attitudes and practice of dental safety vary in different parts of the world. This study compares the compliance rates in dental safety among countries and pegs them to the level of practice in the United States. This study also provides evidence-based data on the needs in the regions surveyed and could be used to implement remedial educational measures in improving safe practices.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Sciences Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas, USA. rputtaiah@bcd.tamhsc.edu
authors.forename: Raghunath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puttaiah
authors.forename: Kierste
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Daniela Raman
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.forename: Sadashiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Almas
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Byoung Ock
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Youngblood
authors.forename: Du
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Minquan
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002681:China; D019551:Dental Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D004497:Education, Dental; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007194:India; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010154:Pakistan; D010679:Philippines; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011482:Protective Devices; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017751:Safety Management; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D013624:Taiwan; D013785:Thailand; D014481:United States; D016635:Universal Precautions
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D019551:Dental Disinfectants; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines