title: Nigerian dental therapy students' knowledge, attitude, and willingness to care for patients with HIV.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess Nigerian dental therapy students' knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to care for patients with HIV. A twenty-six-item questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional study of the dental therapy students of Federal School of Dental Therapy and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria. The level of knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention among the respondents was high. However, misconceptions about the transmission of HIV through blood donation, mosquito bite, and sharing cups and plates were noted. Erroneous descriptions of HIV as harmless, self-limiting, antibiotic sensitive infection, punishment virus, and contagious infection were also reported. More than half (56.2 percent) and 25.2 percent of the respondents, respectively, expressed feelings of empathy and sympathy towards individuals with HIV. About three-quarters (74.3 percent) expressed willingness to treat patients with HIV, and 87.6 percent expressed confidence in their ability to prevent occupational HIV acquisition. This expressed confidence was significantly associated with their willingness to treat patients with HIV. More than half (55.7 percent) of the respondents reported they can adequately deliver HIV-related information to patients. A total of 86.2 percent said there is a need for training dental therapists in the clinical care of patients with HIV, and 89.0 percent said that dental therapists can play a significant role in the dissemination of HIV-related information. The vast majority (90.0 percent) expressed willingness to disseminate HIV-related information, and the majority (70.5 percent) considered the dental therapist the most suitable dental professional to give HIV-related information to patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. clementazodo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Clement Chinedu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Azodo
authors.forename: Adebola Oluyemisi
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ehizele
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Umoh
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okechukwu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001782:Blood Donors; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D009033:Culicidae; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000523:psychology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Nigeria; dental hygiene students; dental therapy students