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Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Infection Control Protocol amongst Dental Professionals – A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: The objectives are: (1) to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding infection control protocols and (2) to identify the factor(s) that might influence the implementation of these protocols amongst dental professionals in all three dental campuses of a public sector university, Karachi. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the three dental campuses of a public sector university, Karachi, for a period of three months from February to April 2019. The study participants consisted of dental and paradental professionals treating patients. A self-administered, structured, validated questionnaire was distributed among 285 participants, out of which 268 participants correctly filled and submitted back the questionnaire. Frequency distribution and Chi square test were performed. RESULTS: Campus A, covering areas of Mehmoodabad town, Karachi comprising 63 participants; Campus B, covering areas of Saddar town, Karachi comprising 68 participants; and Campus C, covering areas of Gulshan and Johar, Karachi comprising 129 participants, respectively. Statistically significant association was found between eyewear utilization among the designation of the practitioner, dental departments and dental campuses. Correspondingly, significant association was observed between awareness regarding needle stick injury protocol implementation with designation of the practitioner and dental campuses. Likewise, a significant association was found between utilization of rubber dams for maintenance of isolation with the age and designation of the practitioner, dental departments and dental campuses. CONCLUSION: The study highlighted the shortcomings of infection control protocol implementation in three dental campuses of a premier healthcare university of Pakistan. The results of this study may be utilized provincially and nationally for the construction and effective implementation of infection control policies. KEYWORDS: AIDS, Disinfection, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, Needle stick injury.