Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitudes of Dentists about HIV / AIDS and Oral Lesions

Year 2019, , 202 - 207, 28.06.2019

Nevin İnce

https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.551139

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Objective: Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that can cause Infectious
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) when it infects infections by targeting immune
system cells and the infection progresses. The aim of this study was to
determine the knowledge level of the dentists about the possible transmission
of HIV / AIDS, the body fluids of HIV and the oral symptoms of HIV / AIDS, to
determine the means of access to information, and to evaluate their attitudes
and awareness towards patients.

Methods: A
questionnaire with 17 items was developed through Survey Monkey system. The
link of this questionnaire was sent to dentists through e-mail, SMS, or social
networking sites, and they were asked to fill out the questionnaire. 180
dentists filling out the questionnaire were taken as the data collection group.

Results: Of the dentists participating in the study,
73% of them were females, and 43% of them were between 31 and 40 ages. Considering
the items on oral lesions of HIV / AIDS patients, 39.8% of them responded as
oral candidiasis. In questions that measure the level of HIV / AIDS knowledge;
28.4% knew that HIV and AIDS were not the same definition, 99% were infected
with unprotected sexual intercourse, blood contact and stab wounds. A
significant proportion of dentists; and urine and saliva, cups, towels, as well
as common materials used to be infected. When the attitudes of the HIV infected
patient were evaluated, more than half of the respondents answered without
hesitation. When the patients were asked if they were worried about HIV
infection, 40% answered yes. They stated that they got their knowledge about
HIV / AIDS mostly in the faculty (85%) and written sources (56.1%). 73.3% of
the dentists stated that they did not have enough information about HIV / AIDS
and oral lesions and they wanted their information to be updated.

Conclusion: Although
the knowledge level of the dentists in our study was generally acceptable, it
was observed that there was misinformation and attitude about the transmission
routes of HIV. It is thought that updating the information about the dentists
working in the field after graduation is important.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, Dentists

Diş Hekimlerinin HIV/AIDS ve Oral Lezyonlar Hakkındaki Bilgi Düzeyi ve Tutumlarının Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: İnsan
İmmün Yetmezlik Virüsü (HIV), bağışıklık sistem hücrelerini hedef alarak
enfeksiyon oluşturan ve enfeksiyon ilerlediğinde Edinilmiş İmmün Yetmezlik
Sendromuna (AIDS) neden olabilen bir virüstür. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Diş
Hekimlerinin HIV/AIDS hastalığının olası bulaş yolları, HIV’nin bulunabileceği
vücut sıvıları ve HIV/AIDS’in ağız içi belirtileri ile ilgili bilgi düzeylerini
saptamak, bilgiye ulaşım yollarını belirlemek, hastalara karşı tutum ve farkındalıklarını
değerlendirmektir.

Gereç ve Yöntem: SurveyMonkey
anket sistemi ile 17 soruluk anket hazırlandı. Hazırlanmış olan link, Diş
hekimlerine mail, cep telefonu ve sosyal paylaşım üzerinden gönderilerek
yanıtlanması istendi. Anketi yanıtlayan 180 hekimin cevapları değerlendirildi.

Bulgular:
Anketi cevaplayan Diş hekimlerinin %73'ü
kadın, %43’ü 31-40 yaş aralığında idi. HIV/AIDS hastalarının ağız lezyonları
hakkında bilgileri sorulduğunda %39,6'sı oral candidiazis olarak yanıtladı. HIV/AIDS
bilgi düzeyini ölçen sorularda; %28,4'ü HIV ve AIDS’in aynı tanım olmadığını %99’u
korunmasız cinsel ilişki, kan teması ve kesici delici aletlerle yaralanma ile bulaş
olduğunu bilmekteydi. Önemli bir oranda diş hekimi; idrar ve  tükürük ile bardak, havlu gibi ortak
kullanılan malzemelerle de bulaştığını ifade etmişlerdi. HIV enfekte hasta ile
ilgili tutumları değerlendirildiğinde, katılımcıların yarısından fazlası
çekinmeden tedavi yaparım olarak yanıtlamıştı. Hastalardan kendilerine HIV
bulaşma endişesi olup olmadığı sorulduğunda, %40’ı evet yanıtını vermişlerdi. HIV/AIDS
hakkındaki bilgilerini en çok fakültede (%85) ve yazılı kaynaklardan (%56,1)
edindiğini ifade etmişlerdi. Diş hekimlerinin %73,3’ü HIV/AIDS ve oral
lezyonlar hakkında yeterli bilgiye sahip olmadıklarını ve bilgilerinin
güncellenmesini istediklerini belirtmişlerdi.

Sonuç: Çalışmamızda
diş hekimlerinin bilgi
düzeyinin genel olarak kabul edilebilir olmasına rağmen, HIV'in bulaş yolları
konusunda yanlış bilgi ve tutum olduğu görülmüştür.  Mezuniyet sonrası sahada çalışan diş
hekimlerine yönelik bilgilerin güncellenmesinin önemli olduğu düşünülmüştür.

Keywords

HIV, diş hekimleri

References

• 1. http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_FactSheet_en.pdf2. Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü. Bulaşıcı Hastalıklar Daire Başkanlığı İstatistiksel Verileri: HIV/AIDS [İnternet]. Ankara: T.C.Sağlık Bakanlığı [erişim 08 Nisan 2019]. https://hsgm.saglik.gov.tr/tr/bulasici-hastaliklar/862-hiv-aids/1135-h%C4%B1v-aids-istatislik.html3. Del Rio C, Curran JW. Epidemiology and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus infection. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders, 2015: 1483-5024. Leggat, P.A., Kedjarune, U., Smith, D.R., 2007. Occupational health problems in modern dentistry: a review. Ind. Health 45 (5), 611–6215. Aleixo RQ, Scherma AP, Guimaraes G, et al. DMFT index and oral mucosal lesions associated with HIV infection: cross-sectional study in Porto Velho, Amazonian region, Brazil. Braz J Infect Dis 2010;14: 449–566. Ellepola AN, Joseph BK, Sundaram DB, et al. Knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS amongst Kuwait University dental students. Eur J Dent Educ 2011;15(3):165-71 7. Oberoi SS, Sharma N, Mohanty V, et al. Knowledge and Attitude of Faculty Members Working in Dental Institutions towards the Dental Treatment of Patients with HIV/AIDS. Int Sch Res Notices 2014;28;2014:4296928. Dökmetaş İ, Hamidi AA. HIV epidemiyoloji. Türkiye Klinikleri J Inf Dis-Special Topics 2016;9:6-119. Seacat JD, Litt MD. Dental students treating patients living with HIV/AIDS: the influence of attitudes and HIV knowledge. J Dent Educ 2009;73(4):437-4410. Murat Günbatan, Berk Tolonay, Ceyda Özçakır Tomruk, et al. Awareness, knowledge and attitudes of dental students in Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry towards individuals with HIV/AIDSdoi: 10.5505/yeditepe.2016.54264 Sayfalar 29 - 3911. Nasir EF, Astrøm AN, David J, et al. HIV and AIDS related knowledge, sources of information, and reported need for further education among dental students in Sudan -a cross sectional study. BMC Public Health 2008;14: 8: 28612. Sadeghi M, Hakimi H. Iranian dental students’ knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients. J Dent Educ 2009;73: 740-513. Grover N, Prakash A, Singh S, et al. Attitude and knowledge of dental students of National Capital Region regarding HIV and AIDS. J Oral MaxillofacPathol 2014; 18: 9-1314. Rungsiyanont S, Lam-Ubol A, Vacharotayangul P, et al. Thai dental practitioners' knowledge and attitudes regarding patients with HIV. J Dent Educ 2013;77(9):1202-815. Ali A, Ali NS, Nasir U, Aadil et al. Comparison of Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Dental Students towards HIV/AIDS in Pakistan. Cureus 2018;10(4):242616. Kumar S, Tadakamadla J, Areeshi AYBH, et al. Knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among dental students of Jazan University, Kingdom Saudi Arabia Saudi Dent J 2018;30(1):47-52 17. El-Maaytah M., Al Kayed A., Al Qudah M., et al. Willingness of dentists in Jordan to treat HIV-infected patients. Oral Diseases 2005;11(5):318–32218. Uti OG, Agbelusi GA, Jeboda SO, et al. Infection control knowledge and practices related to HIV among Nigerian dentists. J Infect Dev Ctries 2009;3(8):604-1019. Kopacz D. R., Grossman L. S., Klamen D. L. Medical students and AIDS: knowledge, attitudes and implications for education. Health Education Research 1999;14(1):1–620. Ajayi YO, Ajayi EO. Dental student's knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus. J Dent 2008;36:374–821. Lueveswanij S, Nittayananta W, Robison VA. Changing knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Thai oral health personnel with regard to AIDS: an evaluation of an educational intervention. Community Dent Health 2000; 17(3):165-71