The cross-infection control in dental practice: Evaluation of patient attitude and susceptibility

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude and susceptibility of the patients who attended to Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry, about the cross-infection control. Methods: A questionnaire was designed to obtain information about cross-infection control in dental practices. The study population included 450 patients (277 female, 173 male) who attended to Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry, in December 2010. The questionnaire collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, expectations from dentists about wearing of gloves, mask, protective cap and glass, changing and renewing of these materials, and infection control procedures before treatment. Descriptive statistical methods and Chi-square test were used to analyze data. An alpha level of 0.05 was used for all statistical analyses. Results: 100% of the patients expected from dentist to wear gloves, 98.9% of them expected to wear mask, 73% of them expected to wear protective cap, and 67.1% of them expected to wear protective glass. The 50.5% of the female respondents stated that all patients should wear protective glass, and this ratio is higher than male patients (37.6%) (p