Methodology for the Scottish survey of decontamination in dental practice

Few robust data exist on the implementation of instrument decontamination guidelines in general dental practice. Objectives: To devise a methodology for reviewing the decontamination of dental instruments in Scottish general dental practices. Methods: Dental practitioners were randomly selected to participate. Data collection forms (AD³), which provided questions designed to investigate compliance with extant guidance documents on decontamination, were designed on Cardiff Teleforms, allowing automatic data recognition. AD³ forms were piloted in 20 dental practices. Training of the 42 surveyors was undertaken over three days and provided an overview of decontamination guidance designed to ensure a common standard of interpretation. Each surgery was visited by two surveyors, one an infection control / decontamination expert and the other an experienced dental practitioner. The surveyors interviewed the dental team, reviewed relevant documentation and recorded the physical layout of the premises. The decontamination processes undertaken in the surgery were viewed directly by the surveyors. Results: This methodology resulted in visits to 184 dental surgeries and useable data for 179 dental surgeries. The opportunity to directly observe and interview staff provided accurate information on the decontamination processes employed at each site. Completed data forms were scanned and downloaded to a database using a software package. Once the form had been reviewed, the data were then committed to a SQL database. Data were exported from the database into Minitab for analysis. Data analysis comprised both tabulated and descriptive statistics. Conclusions: The use of an observational study protocol, together with appropriately trained staff using a data collection tool designed specifically for use in dental practices, has resulted in the generation of robust data for the decontamination of devices in primary care. Funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department; additional financial resources provided by the CDO for Scotland and the Dental Postgraduate Dean at NHS Education for Scotland.