Oral health and HIV: What dental students need to know

Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants Regarding People Living with HIV/AIDS and HIV-Associated Oral and Periodontal Lesions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Oral manifestations serve as important indicators of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and dental healthcare practitioners play a pivotal role in preventing and managing HIV. This study aims to assess and compare the knowledge and attitude of dental assistants and dental hygienists concerning people with HIV/acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in Jeddah province of Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional survey enrolled 160 dental hygienists and assistants practicing in Jeddah. Data was collected using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire comprising 50 questions that investigated knowledge about HIV/AIDS, awareness of HIV-associated oral and periodontal lesions, understanding of HIV transmission routes, and attitudes toward people with AIDS.

RESULTS

In the study, 120 (75.0%) participants correctly recognized that individuals with HIV may appear healthy, while 123 (76.9%) participants admitted that HIV carriers have lower resistance to other diseases. Additionally, 126 (78.8%) participants confirmed an association between the virus and oral lesions, and 137 (85.6%) participants were aware of HIV transmission through blood. Moreover, 150 (93.7%) participants expressed their willingness to support, treat, and assist patients with AIDS, while only 10 (6.3%) participants expressed unwillingness. Notably, no statistically significant differences were found between dental assistants and hygienists in their knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and people with AIDS.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that dental hygienists and assistants possess good general knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and are well-informed about the disease's transmission routes. Moreover, a significant majority endorses the importance of treating and supporting AIDS patients.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Students towards HIV and Its Oral Manifestations in Saudi Arabia—A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is essential for practicing dentists to have adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its implications in the dental practice. Their attitudes should also be up to the professional expectations. This study aimed to assess knowledge of HIV/AIDS infection and attitudes towards its patients among dental students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A questionnaire was prepared and distributed among a sample of dental students in Saudi Arabia. Twenty questions related to knowledge, attitudes, and oral manifestation of HIV were presented. Results: A total of 405 questionnaires were completed (67% response rate). Participants showed low knowledge of safety regarding HIV (39.5%) and 44.2% indicated that they would take an HIV test after needle stick injury. The proportion of correct answers regarding transmission of HIV through saliva, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and aerosols by hand pieces was 41%, 37.5%, and 26.4%, respectively. Almost 50% of the surveyed dental students expressed unwillingness to treat HIV-positive patients. Poor knowledge was noted regarding oral manifestations of HIV (32.7%). Of the participants, 57.8% indicated that infection control procedures are very important for the treatment of HIV patients and 50.6% believed that a dentist can make a decision to reject the treatment of HIV patients. According to the participating dental students, the three major oral manifestations in HIV patients are hairy leukoplakia (47.4%), oral candidiasis (44.7%), and Kaposi’s sarcoma (43.5%). Conclusion: Inadequate knowledge and unprofessional attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients were identified among this group of dental students in Saudi Arabia. Dental educators and health care planners in Saudi Arabia should plan to promote the knowledge and attitudes of dental students in Saudi Arabia towards the treatment of HIV patients.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Clinical Dental Students in the Oral Care of HIV/AIDS Patients

Introduction In the future, clinical dental students, as health service providers, will play a key role in the oral care of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients. Clinical dental students need to increase their knowledge of HIV because it is vital for the diagnosis and management of HIV/AIDS patients that they have a positive attitude regarding oral care behavior toward HIV/AIDS patients. This study aims to explain the relationship between the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of clinical dental students in the oral care of HIV/AIDS patients at Airlangga University Dental Hospital.

Materials and Methods This study used a cross-sectional approach with a sample of 132 respondents. The sample was taken by purposive sampling technique. The independent variable in this study was the attitudes and behavior of clinical dental students toward the care of HIV/AIDS patients. The dependent variable in this study was the knowledge and attitudes of clinical dental students toward the oral care of HIV/AIDS patients. The research data obtained were analyzed using Spearman's rho at ≤0.05.

Result There was significant correlation between knowledge and attitudes (p = 0.001, r = 0.596); knowledge and behavior (p = 0.001, r = 0.637); attitudes and behavior (p = 0.001, r = 0.699) of dentistry students in the care of HIV/AIDS patients oral cavity.

Conclusion Clinical dental students' knowledge of HIV/AIDS will influence their attitudes toward HIV/AIDS patients and their behavior in the oral care of HIV/AIDS. It is hoped that future research can be conducted by adding other independent variables to determine a wider range of factors that affect oral care in HIV/AIDS patients.