Biomaterial Database

Improved compliance with recommended infection control practices in the dental office between 1994 and 1995. 1998

G M McCarthy, and J K MacDonald

Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

OBJECTIVE To investigate changes in Ontario dentists' infection control practices between 1994 and 1995. METHODS Data from responses of 4003 dentists to a 1994 survey and responses of 987 dentists to a 1995 survey were compared by using descriptive statistics from all respondents and McNemar's test for paired data from those participating in both surveys. RESULTS Response rates were 70% (1994) and 62% (1995). There were improvements in reports of routine use of gloves (92% to 94%); masks (73% to 79%); and protective eyewear (83% to 84%); vaccination for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or naturally acquired immunity of dentists (93% to 94%); HBV vaccination of clinical staff (64% to 77%); heat sterilization of handpieces (83% to 95%); and no extra precautions for patients with HIV (13% to 48%). Pairwise comparison of data for 788 dentists participating in both surveys showed statistically significant increases in reports of all practices except use of protective eyewear. The 1995 follow-up data also indicated low compliance with handwashing (74% before treating each patient; 62% after removing gloves); flushing water lines after treating each patient (54%); and using postexposure protocol for needlesticks and cuts (36%). CONCLUSIONS Dentists' reports of compliance with recommended infection control practices and universal precautions against HBV and HIV infection increased between 1994 and 1995, but most dentists apparently have not adopted universal precautions. More education is needed to promote universal precautions, HBV vaccination for clinical staff, handwashing, and postexposure protocol.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007722	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL).	Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D009864	Ontario	A province of Canada lying between the provinces of Manitoba and Quebec. Its capital is Toronto. It takes its name from Lake Ontario which is said to represent the Iroquois oniatariio, beautiful lake. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p892 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p391)
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003770	Dental Offices	The room or rooms in which the dentist and dental staff provide care. Offices include all rooms in the dentist's office suite.	Dental Office,Office, Dental,Offices, Dental
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D019552	Infection Control, Dental	Efforts to prevent and control the spread of infections within dental health facilities or those involving provision of dental care.	Dental Infection Control,Control, Dental Infection,Controls, Dental Infection,Dental Infection Controls,Infection Controls, Dental
D019983	Guideline Adherence	Conformity in fulfilling or following official, recognized, or institutional requirements, guidelines, recommendations, protocols, pathways, or other standards.	Institutional Adherence,Policy Compliance,Protocol Compliance,Adherence, Guideline,Adherence, Institutional,Compliance, Policy,Compliance, Protocol