Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020

Knowledge and attitude of dental students towards the oral care of HIV/AIDS patients

Shahzeb Hasan Ansari^1♦, Alwaleed Abdulaziz Alkhayyal², Abdullah Alhamoud², Abdulmohsen Alsabhan², Omar Alfayez², Saud Alahmari², Tariq Mohammmed Abuajmah²

¹Lecturer, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh 11681, Saudi Arabia
²Dental intern, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh 11681, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Lecturer, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh 11681, Saudi Arabia; Email: Shahzebhasan@riyadh.edu.sa

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Oral health is strongly linked with the systemic conditions, with HIV being one of them. As a dental professional, it is imperative to have the knowledge of this association. Materials and methods: A cross sectional study, which utilized a closed ended questionnaire constructed in Arabic language. This online survey was designed using Google forms, which consisted of questions related to the demographics and knowledge and attitude related to HIV/AIDS. Results: A total of N=521 dental students filled out the online survey. Out of this sample, 46% were females and 54% males. Statistically significant results were achieved amongst various levels of dentistry, when inquired about transmission through saliva (p-value: 0.008), transmission through CPR (p-value: 0.048) and infection control protocol being time consuming (p-value: 0.027). Conclusion: Male students showed better knowledge regarding the association of oral manifestations of HIV. Level 8, 9 and 10 students showed positive attitude towards the treatment of HIV patients in dental clinic.

Keywords: space maintainer, parents' knowledge, pediatric dentistry

Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4249-4257

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