title: Exploring attitudes and knowledge of climate change and sustainability in a dental practice: A feasibility study into resource management.
abstract: Objective To understand the attitudes and behaviour of staff in dental practice towards adopting a reduce, reuse, recycle approach to resource management.Design A qualitative interview study.Setting The site for the study was a mixed NHS/private dental practice in North Devon.Subjects All disciplines from one dental practice.Methods (1) A practice scoping exercise - provided context and identified an interview sample. (2) Qualitative interviews with practice staff - explored knowledge and attitudes about sustainability and identified opportunities and limitations for the sustainable management of resources.Results The main issue raised by staff was the amount of waste generated. There was a strong desire to implement changes, but deep concerns were expressed about the impact of challenging current guidance on infection control.Conclusions Primary care dentistry provides both surgical and non-surgical care to more than half the UK population. Therefore, lessons learned from general dental practice can encourage positive change. More research is needed across dental practice in order to generalise these findings.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University, Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, 8 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL48AA;
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grose
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University, Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, 8 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL48AA;
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University, Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, 8 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL48AA;
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth, John Bull Building, Tamar Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moles
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth, John Bull Building, Tamar Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasser
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D057231:Climate Change; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D003726:Dental Assistants; D003815:Dentists; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011215:Practice Management, Dental; D036301:Qualitative Research