FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DENTISTS WILLINGNESS TO TREAT HIGH-RISK PATIENTS

The attitude of dentists in England and Wales to treatment of patients at high risk to HIV/HBV was tested by means of a postal questionnaire distributed to 1950 dentists randomly selected from those practising within the NHS Regulations. The response rate was 61%, with 52% of res pondents indicating that they treated patients at high risk to AIDS/HB V. Analysis of respondent dentists' practice and personal profile show ed associations between willingness to treat high-risk category patien ts and respondents' number of years since graduation, respondents' gen der, number of postgraduate courses attended, and respondents' practic e type.