ABSTRACT
Introduction: The chances of dental professionals acquiring infection from HIV infected patient is very low yet significant. Hence most of the dental practitioners often hesitate to treat such cases reflecting their attitude and behavior on understanding about the pathogenesis and various aspects of the disease. Aim: The present study was aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards HIV patients among dental students. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaire, through Google forms using various social media platforms among 206 dental students from second year to interns across dental colleges in Tamil Nadu, India during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. Statistics was done and results were tabulated. Results: In the present study it was observed that 77.7% students were aware of standard protocols to be taken for treating HIV patients and 71.8% were aware of various detection and management techniques. The overall knowledge and attitude towards HIV patients among dental students was 86% (highest) for interns group, 79% for final years, 75% for third years and 67% for second years (low score) respectively. Conclusion: The present study shows that there was adequate knowledge among the dental students regarding the oral manifestations and dental treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS however lack of attitude towards disease transmission was observed. Efforts have to be taken to improve the modes of educating the students about the HIV infection and its dental effects.