Knowledge and attitudes of dental patients towards cross-infection control measures in dental practice

ABSTRACT

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