A qualitative exploration of dental practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV+ and patients with other 'high risk' groups.

This paper expands upon a previous quantitative study which measured dentists' knowledge, attitudes and practices towards patients carrying blood-borne viruses in order to identify potential barriers to the provision of adequate dental treatment. Although some useful findings were obtained in that study, it was suggested that further qualitative work needed to be conducted in order to provide the opportunity for dental practitioners' to expand, reflect and justify their opinions and beliefs in more detail. The aim of this study is to present the results of such a qualitative investigation.