Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Infection Control Measures among Dental Practitioners in Public Setup of Karachi, Pakistan: Cross-sectional Survey
Keywords:
Infection control, cross infection, dental practitioners, knowledge, attitude, practicesAbstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding infection control measures among dental practitioners of Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences (DIKIOHS) Karachi. The study also examined the correlation between the knowledge, attitude, and practices scores.
Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted at the DIKIOHS public setup of Karachi, Pakistan. All dental practitioners of the institute were approached through a non-probability convenience sampling technique and requested to fill self administered proforma consisting of twenty one variables regarding infection control knowledge, attitude and practices.
Results: Among the total, one hundred and sixteen dental practitioners ( 96.7%) were vaccinated against Hepatitis B and around (n=112, 93%) regularly wash hands before and after treatment. Ninety eight percent (n=118, 98.3%) of dental practitioners wore and changed gloves after each patient (n=118, 98.3%). Around three quarters (n=89, 74.2%) of the study participants routinely wore face mask. The habit of changing facemasks between patients and wearing protective eye- wear among dentist was less than 50%. More than half (n=61, 50.8%) of the study participants change hand pieces between patients.
In current study the mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores regarding infection control were found poor among senior dental professionals as compared to house officers and junior professionals. Moderate level of correlation existed between the knowledge and attitude (r = 0.4; p-value < 0.01); knowledge and practice (r= 0.367; p-value < 0.01) and attitude and practices (r = 0.487; p-value < 0.01).
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