title: Dental hygienists' knowledge of HIV, attitudes towards people with HIV and willingness to conduct rapid HIV testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To normalize rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in the United States, expanded rapid HIV testing initiatives are needed outside the routine medical setting. The dental setting is a logical choice as almost two-thirds of Americans regularly see a dental provider each year. This study was aimed to determine the dental hygienists' knowledge of HIV, attitudes towards people living with HIV and willingness to conduct rapid HIV testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national cross-sectional survey of practicing dental hygienists and senior dental hygiene students were recruited using state dental hygiene associations, email LISTSERVS, dental hygiene programmes and continuing education conferences (n = 634).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean knowledge score was 10.5/13. High versus low test-scorers (75% of test questions or more answered correctly versus less than 75% answered correctly) did differ in their comfort level in counselling about sexual HIV prevention methods (P = 0.03) and comfort level in working with medically compromised patients (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental hygienists, with additional training in HIV prevention counseling and diagnostic testing, may be an appropriate profession to conduct rapid HIV testing.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Santella
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krishnamachari
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Davide
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cortell
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Furnari
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Haden
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D004500:Education, Graduate; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014481:United States; D044465:White People
keywords: dental health services; dental hygienist; human immunodeficiency virus; human immunodeficiency virus testing; oral hygiene