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Sri Lanka Dental Journal , 2008 April (Vol:38 No:2)
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Published on: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:29:59 +0530
Last updated on: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:50:31 +0530
Sri Lanka Dental Journal, 2008 April (Vol:38 No:2)
1391-07280
A Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Sri Lankan Dental Surgeons towards HIV/Hepatitis B Positive Patients
ABSTRACT
Objective
The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Sri Lankan Dental surgeons towards the HIV and Hepatitis B positive patients.
Method and materal
The sample comprised of all the dental surgeons (DSs) practicing in the private sector, the government sector and the armed forces in Sri Lanka. The survey was carried out by means of a postal questionnaire.
Results
The response rate of the survey was 22.6%. Most of the Respondents were DSs between 30- 40 years of age. There were 54.2% males in the sample. Out of the total, 28.6% of them had less than 5 years of experience but 24% had more than 20 years of experience. The majority of the respondents, correctly identified 4 common lesions associated with HIV/AIDS but only 10% of them identified all 8 lesions. All the respondents indicated blood as a medium of transmission of HIV/AIDS. However, 45.8% of DSs incorrectly cited saliva also as a medium of transmission. Only 33.3% knew the infectivity of breast milk. Most of the respondents wore gloves and face masks but only a few used protective eye glasses. Relatively, a large proportion of dentists remained uncertain about treating high risk patients. Over 95% of the DSs were worried about the occupational exposure of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B infections. All the DSs agreed that protection of dental workers from occupational exposure is a high priority. All the DSs believed that provision of dental care for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B positive patients is an ethical responsibility of them.
Conclusion
The results of the study suggest that the dental surgeons’ knowledge about HIV/ AIDS and Hepatitis B is not adequate and needs improvement. The practice of taking protective measures is satisfactory, but needs further improvement. The ethical concern of the Dental surgeons about HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B patients is excellent but there is an uncertainty about treating high risk patients.
Dr. R.D Jayasinghe BDS, MS. Senior lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental (Correspondence) Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri lanka, E-mail- ruwanja@pdn.ac.lk
Dr. R.M. Jayasinghe BDS, MS. Senior Registrar in Restorative Dentistry, Dental Hospital, Peradeniya.
Dr. J.B. Abayakoon BDS, MSc, Dental officer, Royal Air Force, Sultanate of Oman
Prof. K.A. Wettasinghe BDS (SL) MS (COL) FDSRCS (Eng and Edin) Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya
FULLTEXT
Introduction
The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is slowly but steadily on the rise in Sri Lanka (SL). The first HIV positive patient from Sri Lanka was reported in the year1987. Up to 2007, there were more than 225 deaths due to HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka and the number of suspected AIDS cases in adults (above 15 years) was more than 4000.1 Although the prevalence of HIV infection is low (adult prevalence – less than 0.1%) in Sri Lanka, all the risk factors can be found in our society as well. The number of patients with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B is increasing in Sri Lanka and the dental surgeons in our country might come across these patients and may even need to treat them. As dental surgeons, we have an ethical obligation to treat these patients. Several studies have been done in other countries to gather information regarding attitudes, knowledge and practices of dental surgeons towards HIV/AIDs and Hepatitis B positive patients.2 But to the best of our knowledge, so far no study has been carried out in Sri Lanka regarding these aspects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gather information regarding attitudes, knowledge and practices of Sri Lankan dental surgeons towards HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B positive patients.
Materials and methods
The SLDA office has become a Wi-Fi enabled zone. Any member could utilize the privilege of internet access free of charge by bringing their own laptops to the SLDA office and connecting to the net.