title: Knowledge, attitude and practice of dentists towards prophylaxis after exposure to blood and body fluids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-exposure prophylaxis plays an important role in prevention of bloodborne diseases after occupational exposures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of dentists towards post-exposure prophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 140 dentists in Shiraz were selected through a systematic randomized sampling. They filled out a self-made questionnaire including 30 knowledge, 4 attitude and 10 practice questions. Mean of knowledge and percentage of various items of attitude and practice were reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean±SD knowledge score of dentists was 18.5±6.2. Knowledge had a significant relationship with the level of education (p<0.001), attending infection control seminars (p<0.001), and working in public clinics (p<0.001). A total of 63 (43%) dentists believed that immediate washing of the exposed area has no effect on the prevention of hepatitis and AIDS. Of the studied dentists, 13%, 11%, and 34% believed that prophylaxis after exposure to patients' blood had no effect on prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections, respectively. Only 170 (53%) exposed dentists immediately washed the exposed area and only 43 (13.4%) of them evaluated the source patient for risk factors of hepatitis and AIDS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge, attitude and practice of dentists working in Shiraz towards postexposure prophylaxis are not desirable. Interventions to raise their awareness are therefore warranted.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaghaghian
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. soheilpardis7@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pardis
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mansoori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires