CROSS-INFECTION CONTROL IN GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE - DENTISTS BEHAVIOR COMPARED WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND OPINIONS

This study aimed to establish how dentists' knowledge, opinion and beh aviour about cross-infection control were related and how they were af fected by their ages, gender and the sizes of the practices in which t hey worked. In 1990/91 all general dental practitioners in the North W estern Health Region of England were asked: to complete a questionnair e about cross-infection control; 917 (75%) did so. Responses from all single-handed and one: dentist selected randomly from each group pract ice were analysed (n = 546); The score to measure behaviour was based on guidelines on cross-infection control issued by the British Dental Association and:this was correlated with scores for knowledge and opin ion. The more knowledgeable not only tended to hold favourable opinion s about the guidelines but also to practise them. Younger dentists wer e more knowledgeable about cross-infection control measures than older and more likely to wear gloves. Irrespective of age, all female denti sts were more likely to wear gloves than their male colleagues. Single -handed dentists were less willing to treat carriers: of HIV and HBV. Although 65% thought that recommended control procedures are feasible, 43% considered them prohibitively expensive.