Knowledge and attitude among students towards HIV/AIDS patients at a dental college, Suraram, India

Abstract

Background: Clinical training is a part of curriculum for the dental students. They are trained in dental procedures, where there is a chance of exposure to HIV infection. Hence this study was conducted with an objective to assess their knowledge, attitude to treat these patients.Methods: An institutional based study was carried out among 145 dental students at Malla Reddy Dental College for Women. A questionnaire with 29 questions on knowledge, attitude and willing to treat the HIV/AIDS patients which was already used in other study was adapted. Primary outcome- knowledge and attitude was measured in percentages, proportions using SPSS version 20 and Chi-square.Results: Total subjects who had good knowledge were 71 (48.9%) and 137(94.5%) viewed needle stick injury can transmit HIV virus. 138 (98.1%) agreed that it is their moral responsibility to treat HIV/AIDS patients and risk of HIV transmission is high, hence special precautions have to be followed to treat them. Positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients was reported among 129(89%) of students. Chi square test showed an association between knowledge and attitude among study subjects which was statistically significant at p <0.05 level.Conclusions: Active student’s collaboration for treatment compliance of HIV/AIDS patients should be directed towards comprehensive training in the dental colleges which forms a basis for provision of appropriate, optimal dental care improving oral health related quality of life in people living with HIV.

Knowledge and Attitude Towards HIV Patients among Dental Students

“…Around 63.1% believe infection control methods for hepatitis-B is adequate protection against transmission of HIV and only 34% opt for sterilization using autoclave for destruction of HIV which is similar to study done by Kumar S et al (28%) [6] and Jain et al [10] . Only 46% participants were self-assured to consider aerosols generated from hand-piece can also cause HIV transmission which is in accordance with the study by Rani et al (46.9%) [13] and Singh et al (19%) [9] . 80.6% suggest need for better understanding of various infection protocols can prevent the spread of HIV.…”

“…More than half of the students believed that saliva as a Key vehicle for AIDS transmission (59.5%) similar to Kumar S et al (57%) [6] , Saheer et al (51.95%) [12] , Rani et al (53.8%) [13] , Oberoi et al [14] , Sheikh et al [15] and Patil et al [16] . Various literature study also shows evident that exposure to saliva is a highly infectious source for transmission of HIV infection to the treating dentist.…”

Assessment of knowledge and attitude-based questionnaire of HIV/AIDS by dental students

“…Rani et al [29], 2017 carried out a survey to evaluate the level of knowledge and attitude of 145 dental students towards HIV/ AIDS patients. They prepared a 29 questions questionnaire and were distributed among all the dental students.…”

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“…A study conducted in KSA, Jeddah 2017 reported that the prevalence of lacking knowledge of HIV\AIDS was approximately 42% (Abolfotouh et al, 2013). Another study among Saudi students reported a negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS home care for infected patients and even negative attitude to discuss the infection with friends (Nubed and Akoachere, 2017).…”