Introduction: Dental students are high risks persons in exposing to hepatitis B infection. Dental students knowledge and attitude about hepatitis B infection is necessary for assessment the educational
evaluation and supervision of dental treatments.
The aim was to survey the knowledge and attitude in the final year students of dental schools in Tehran regarding hepatitis B infection control and its related risk factors, 2013-14.
Methods: The study was descriptive – analytical with cross sectional method. 207 dental students of undergraduate and postgraduate from dental schools of Tehran were enrolled in the study. Sampling method was ordinal. Data were collected by self-made questionnaire comprising 10 and 24 question about knowledge and attitudes of hepatitis B infection, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests.
Results: Respecting to the attitude, the difference between genders (p=0.244), universities (p=1.62) and existence a physicians in the family (p=0.22) was not significant. The difference between academic
levels (p=0.012) was significant. Respecting to the knowledge, the difference between genders (p=0.815), universities (p=0.16) and existence a physicians in the family (p=0.942) was not significant. The difference between academic levels (p=0.06) was significant. No significant relationship between knowledge and attitude scores was obtained (p=0.684).
Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude of dental students from Tehran universities regarding hepatitis B infection and its related risk factors in undergraduates is lesser than post graduates students. This
finding indicate the importance of more practical education on hepatitis B infection control in undergraduate students.
Keywords: Infection control, Hepatitis B, Dentistry |