Patients' perception of cross-infection prevention in dentistry in Jordan.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the public perception of cross-infection prevention methods and their role in disease transmission, among patients attending Jordan University Hospital.


METHODS
A systemic random sample of 310 dental patients with a mean (SD) age of 35.1 (14.80) years was selected (42.6% males and 57.4% female). Patients were interviewed prior to dental appointments by a specially trained and calibrated dentist. Responses of the patients were recorded in the structured questionnaire, maintaining their privacy and confidentiality. The data were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analysed using the SPSS statistical package to obtain the prevalence rates of patients' perceptions, which were then cross tabulated with gender, age and other variables. Significant differences were determined using the chi-square test, when appropriate.


RESULTS
Of the respondents, 83.5% found it necessary for the dentist to wear gloves, and 65.8% stated the reason was to prevent cross infection from one patient to another. About three-quarters (74.8%) found it necessary for the dentist to wear a mask; when asked about the reason, 52.3% stated prevention of cross infection from dentist to patient. Regarding wearing protective glasses, about three-quarters (73.9%) found it unnecessary for the dentist to do so. The majority (76.8%) stated the method of HIV transmission was by dentists using needles previously used for patients infected with AIDS; 71% knew there is no vaccine against HIV. Only half (49%) reported that hepatitis could be transmitted by blood transfusion. Approximately two-thirds (67.4%) knew there is a vaccine against hepatitis. About 53.5% claimed their knowledge regarding infection transmission was obtained through watching television programmes about cross infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental patients in Jordan need to be equipped with adequate knowledge about cross-infection control, thus education reinforcement is imperative.
University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Nicola
N
Barghout
Rola
R
Al Habashneh
Soukaina T
ST
Ryalat
Farah A
FA
Asa'ad
Mousa
M
Marashdeh
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D004522:Educational Status; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D013690:Television; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; D055815:Young Adult
D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines