Perception and Preparedness of Dental Students in Managing Seropositive Patients

Background: Health care workers in the field of dentistry face the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This is increased in inexperienced practitioners and those in the learning phase. It is important to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of dental students in handling seropositive patients at regular intervals, as a form of effective clinical training and patient care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey comprising a prevalidated questionnaire was administered to 246 dental students, both undergraduate and postgraduate students, with a minimum of 1 year of experience in handling patients. The questionnaire was constructed in a 4-pronged manner, covering different aspects. Mann-Whitney U test and χ 2 test with a P = 0.05 significance level were used to test the data. Results: Competent students scored much higher in terms of knowledge (37.00 vs. 32.50, P = 0.002) and attitude (29.00 vs. 28.00, P = 0.024). The level of knowledge was found to be more advanced in undergraduates than in postgraduates (median 37.00 vs. 34.00, P = 0.039). Only 27.6% (68/246) were not sure that they were competent to treat seropositive patients, and 74.8% (184/246) had to admit that they required additional education. Conclusion: Substantial gaps were identified in the practical preparations and self-assessed competence of the surveyed students, even with average knowledge levels. This iterates the need to improve the training programs aimed at clinical protocols, infection control, and reduction of stigma towards seropositive patients and to ensure that equitable care is delivered to every patient.