Department of Preventive Dental Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, Phone: +966507831154, e-mail:
Department of Preventive Dental Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
J Contemp Dent Pract. 2022 Sep 1;23(9):924-929. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-3410.
The aim of the present study is to evaluate dental healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward hepatitis B infection.
This study was a cross-sectional self-administered, structured questionnaire survey that was conducted in Khartoum/Sudan. The questionnaire was completed by 177 dental healthcare providers who practice in public dental clinics in Khartoum state. The completion rate was 100%.
The study participants showed relatively acceptable knowledge of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The majority (98.3%) were familiar with hepatitis B infection. About 93% answered correctly that blood, blood products, and needles/sharps are the route of transmission of HBV. About 65.5% completed HBV vaccination. About 59.3% had a history of needle sticks and only 16% reported their injury. Dentists and nurses almost had the same knowledge, but dentists were slightly having better knowledge in some aspects. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used. Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between categorical variables.
Most of the study participants were aware of HBV infection, routes of transmission, prevention, and necessity of vaccination, but they are deficient in some areas, like needle-stick injury protocol and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The study revealed a low level of HBV vaccination coverage rate. Further strategies for preventing workplace exposure, training programs on HBV infection, including PEP, and increasing the vaccination coverage rate of all healthcare workers are highly recommended.
Dental healthcare workers are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B infection. The majority of exposure in dentistry is preventable. Understanding the knowledge and awareness of dental health toward hepatitis B is crucial to design and apply preventive measures to control transmission and potential complications.
本研究旨在评估牙科医护人员对乙型肝炎感染的知识、态度和实践。
这是一项横断面、自我管理、结构问卷调查研究，在苏丹喀土穆进行。问卷由在喀土穆州公立牙科诊所工作的 177 名牙科医护人员填写。完成率为 100%。
研究参与者对乙型肝炎病毒 (HBV) 感染表现出相对可接受的知识。大多数人（98.3%）熟悉乙型肝炎感染。约 93%的人正确回答血液、血液制品和针/锐器是 HBV 的传播途径。约 65.5%的人完成了乙型肝炎疫苗接种。约 59.3%的人有过针刺伤史，只有 16%的人报告了他们的受伤情况。牙医和护士的知识几乎相同，但牙医在某些方面的知识略好一些。使用社会科学统计软件包 (SPSS) 版本 20。卡方检验用于确定分类变量之间的关系。
大多数研究参与者都意识到 HBV 感染、传播途径、预防和接种疫苗的必要性，但在一些方面，如针刺伤协议和暴露后预防 (PEP)，他们有所欠缺。研究显示乙型肝炎疫苗接种覆盖率较低。强烈建议采取进一步的策略，防止工作场所暴露，对 HBV 感染进行培训，包括 PEP，并提高所有医护人员的疫苗接种覆盖率。
牙科医护人员感染乙型肝炎的风险较高。牙科中的大多数暴露是可以预防的。了解牙科对乙型肝炎的知识和意识对于设计和应用预防措施来控制传播和潜在并发症至关重要。
