Method: A questionnaire was completed by fifty members of the public in the Greater Glasgow area. The questionnaire consisted of 16 closed questions concerning infection control.
Results: All fifty patients completed the questionnaire. The age distribution of respondents comprised 40% in the 44-64 age group, 38% in the 18-34 age group, 14% in the 35-44 age group and 8% in the 65+ age group with 44% of respondents being male. The majority of the patients (94%) received dental treatment in general dental practice where the main reason for attending was for a routine check up (88%) with 58% attending the dentist within the preceding 6 months. The majority of patients (75%) did object to rubber gloves being re-used between patients and 66% expressed concerns over lack of hand hygiene between changing gloves for dental treatment. For both HIV and hepatitis B over 80% of respondents thought it either unlikely or extremely unlikely these could be transmitted in the dental surgery. In terms of the survey population and their perception of risk from acquiring CJD following dental treatment, 81% thought this unlikely or extremely unlikely. However, 17% of respondents were unsure of the risks associated with CJD and dental treatment. No patient avoided or delayed a visit to the dentist because of concerns over risks of cross infection.
Conclusion: Patients perceptions of infection control have improved over recent years. Compared to earlier studies patients are now less accepting of glove re-use and poor hand hygiene. Despite recent media reports patients in this cohort were not deterred from attending dental practice from fears of acquisition of HIV or CJD.