Evaluation of the Knowledge and Attitudes of the Faculty of Dentistry Health Workers and Clinical Students Regarding Standard Precautions in COVID-19 Pandemic

Essentials of Dentistry, vol.1, no.1, pp.89-95, 2022 (TRDizin)

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and practices of health personnel and fourth- and fifth-grade students in

dental faculties regarding standard precautions and to examine their behaviors in this regard.

Methods: This study is of a cross-sectional descriptive nature. The data were collected by answering a questionnaire consisting of 35

questions developed by the researchers and prepared under 3 main headings. The questions were prepared as multiple-choice single-answer

and multiple-choice multiple answers. The obtained data were analyzed by chi-square test. Results were reported as statistically

significant at P < .05.

Results: In total, 12.5% of the participants are academic staff, 2.6% are research assistants, 1.3% are doctoral students, 16.2% are

nurses, 8.6% are other health personnel, and 58.8% are fourth- and fifth-grade students. There is a statistically significant relationship

between the injury status of the participants and their age, education, occupation, and duration of being in the faculty (P < .05). The

knowledge levels of those who received in-service training on infection control (59.59%) about the existence of medical equipment

were found to be statistically significantly higher (P < .05).

Conclusion: This study shows the data on attitudes and behaviors of dental faculty health workers in Turkey toward standard precautions.

Keywords: Dentistry, standard precautions, infection control