title: Massachusetts dental public health program directors practice behaviors and perceptions of infection control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this exploratory study was to deter mine the current infection control practices used in Massachusetts dental public health programs and assess the perceived compliance and challenges with infection control standards as outlined in the 2003 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection control guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of program directors of dental public health programs in Massachusetts (n=82) were invited to participate. The directors were identified through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, local dental/dental hygiene schools and key stakeholders in dental public health. The electronic questionnaire-based survey consisted of 26 open/closed-ended and Likert scale questions. Statistical analysis included frequency distribution and factor analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 43%. The majority of responders to the survey were from public health settings using fixed/mobile dental equipment (82.9%), compared to settings using portable equipment (17.1%). Perceived lapses in the guidelines were attributed to lack of finances (r=0.938), lack of personnel (r=0.874) and lack of space (r=0.763). The only significant correlation between the program directors perceived adherence to the CDC guidelines was having access to necessary supplies and equipment (r=0.914). Program directors indicated that the CDC guidelines are hard to apply (r=0.895) and guide lines specific to settings using portable equipment would be helpful (r=0.925).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of the sample size and response rate, directors from public health settings using both fixed/mobile and portable equipment reported being able to apply the current 2003 CDC infection control guidelines with few compliance challenges. However, respondents indicated that the guidelines were hard to apply and that infection control guidelines for settings using portable equipment would be useful.
authors.affiliation: Forsyth Dental Hygiene Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: November-Rider
authors.forename: Kimberly Krust
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: Kathy J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Tanya Villalpando
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000592:standards; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards; D003748:Dental Equipment / Q000382:microbiology; D003762:Dental Instruments / Q000382:microbiology; D018057:Dental Waste; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D004203:Disinfection / Q000592:standards; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D008404:Massachusetts; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000592:standards; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D012571:School Dentistry / Q000592:standards; D013242:Sterilization / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000592:standards; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D018057:Dental Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal