OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient's attitudes to the use of gloves by dentists. DESIGN: This consisted of a four-item questionnaire administered to 445 consecutive patients attending our dental clinic. SETTING: . Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals' Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and forty five patients above the age of fifteen years attending the dental clinic for the first time. RESULTS: Majority of the patients were in the 20-30 year age group and over 93% had formal education. Most of the respondents (88.8%) stated that glove wearing was essential and over 63% considered that glove wearing protected both the operator and the patient. Whilst about one-third of respondents would attend for treatment when gloves were not worn, 81.3% felt that gloves should be changed after each patient. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in responses in relation to age-groups and educational attainment, however no sex differences (p>0.05) were reported. CONCLUSION: This survey showed a high level of awareness by patients on the use of gloves by dentists. It also found that age-groups and levels of educational attainment influenced patients attitude to glove use.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient's attitudes to the use of gloves by dentists. DESIGN: This consisted of a four-item questionnaire administered to 445 consecutive patients attending our dental clinic. SETTING: . Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals' Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and forty five patients above the age of fifteen years attending the dental clinic for the first time. RESULTS: Majority of the patients were in the 20-30 year age group and over 93% had formal education. Most of the respondents (88.8%) stated that glove wearing was essential and over 63% considered that glove wearing protected both the operator and the patient. Whilst about one-third of respondents would attend for treatment when gloves were not worn, 81.3% felt that gloves should be changed after each patient. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in responses in relation to age-groups and educational attainment, however no sex differences (p>0.05) were reported. CONCLUSION: This survey showed a high level of awareness by patients on the use of gloves by dentists. It also found that age-groups and levels of educational attainment influenced patients attitude to glove use.
Authors: Nahla K Ibrahim; Hebah A Alwafi; Samaa O Sangoof; Asraa K Turkistani; Bushra M Alattas Journal: J Infect Public Health Date: 2016-07-14 Impact factor: 3.718