COMPLIANCE OF INFECTION CONTROL PROTOCOL AMONG DENTISTS IN TRIVANDRUM CITY, KERALA, INDIA
Aim: Dentists are at a risk of transmitting infectious diseases in a dental setting, which may be transferred from the patient to dentist, dentist to patient or from patient to patient. There is risk of transmission of infectious agents via cross contamination through dental procedures. To assess the compliance to infection
control protocol and assess the knowledge of infectious diseases among dentists in Trivandrum city. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among the dentists in Trivandrum city.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy four dentists (males 56.7%), who were members of the Indian Dental Association, Trivandrum Branch (80%of total dentists), were given self-administered questionnaires. Analysis was done using SPSS version 14.
Results: None of the respondents had 100%compliance to all infection control procedure. The mean score of compliance was 84.7/115 (86.3 - females and 83.5 – males, Range: 58-107). Mean score of knowledge of infectious diseases was 23.7/30 (23.6 – males and 23.8- females) 93% compliance with standard protocol was the maximum reported (2 dentists). Experience of more than 30 yrs and presence of a dental assistant was significantly associated with higher compliance to infection control protocol.
Conclusion: Being a dental college faculty, working in the private sector and awareness of standard protocol were significantly associated with Knowledge of infectious diseases. Compliance was positively correlated to knowledge. It is imperative from the study that dentists require more training and continuing dental education in infection control.