ABSTRACT
Medicine is a noble profession but there is also growing anxiety both within the medical profession and in the community regarding increasing trends of complaints and lawsuits against doctors. Knowledge about medical ethics is as fundamental to the practice of medicine as clinical skills. To assess the knowledge of health care professionals regarding medico-legal issues. The questionnaire study consisted of questions pertaining to basic knowledge of COPRA (Consumer Protection Act 1984), informed consent and Medico-legal courses. A total of 325 health care professionals enrolled for the study. Most of the health care professionals were able to answer questions about informed consent. Almost 80% of health professionals were aware about informed consent, 41.84% of health professionals were not aware about consumer protection act 92%of health professionals don’t know about the courses regarding Medico-legal issues. The participants were knowledgeable about medical ethics and informed consent but when it came to Consumer Protection act, professional indemnity claim and medico- legal courses their information was basic, they lacked knowledge about finer details hence showed an immediate need to update the understanding of these issues to be on legally safer side.
ABSTRACT
Background: Most of the materials (casts, impressions, etc.) that are sent to the dental laboratories show the presence of numerous pathogenic microorganisms. All the spray disinfectants are not equally effective against these microorganisms. Aims and Objectives: The aim was to compare the effectiveness of different spray disinfectants on irreversible hydrocolloid impressions and to find out the most effective dilution, contact time, and effect against each microorganism studied. Materials and Methods: The effects of four spray disinfectants, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, 0.525% sodium hypochlorite, 1:213 (1 part in 213 parts of water) povidone iodine, and 2% glutaraldehyde along with control (distilled water) on irreversible hydrocolloid impressions contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus viridans were studied. Results: Sodium hypochlorite, 5.25%, showed 1-min exposure time which was able to effect a 4log10 reduction in bacterial counts against S. aureus and S. viridans followed by 0.525% sodium hypochlorite and 2% glutaraldehyde for 10 min. None were able to effect a 4 log10 reduction against B. subtilis. Conclusion: Sodium hypochlorite with a concentration of 5.25% was the most effective disinfectant and required the shortest contact time (1 min). Not all ADA-approved concentrations of surface disinfectants work equally well on irreversible hydrocolloid impression materials.