Open AccessKnowledge and attitudes of dental patients towards cross-infection control measures in dental practice
Author(s) -
Adel A. Mousa,
Nadia M. Mahmoud,
Azza Mahmoud Tag El Din
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/1997.3.2.263
Subject(s) - medicine , dental clinic , dentistry , infection control , outpatient clinic , dental practice , family medicine , surgery
The knowledge and attitudes of 460 dental patients attending outpatient dental clinics in Alexandria, Tanta, and El-Mansoura universities were studied. Every patient was interviewed individually using a questionnaire concerning the routine use of protective gloves, masks and spectacles. The results revealed that 90% of the patients expected dentists to wear gloves, 73% expected them to wear face masks and 37% to wear spectacles. Most patients believed that gloves were for the patient’s protection while face masks and spectacles were for the dentist’s protection. About 50% of patients believed that they could contract infectious diseases during dental treatment;the more educated, the greater the concern of infection. Tanta patients were more concerned about cross infection than other patients