Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a questionnaire survey on dental care cooperation for HIV patients at general dental clinics in major hospital block areas, including Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka, and to investigate the factors inhibiting the acceptance of such patients.
Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire survey regarding knowledge of HIV, dental care of patients, and infection control was conducted, and the answers obtained?including 1, 462 cases at general dental clinics-were analyzed.
Results: Regarding how to respond to the situation when HIV patients visit, 332 (23.8%) general dentists answered that they would see the patients. But, 1, 011 (72.5%) general dentists answered that they would ask for the dental treatment of the patents from major hospital block areas. 51 (3.6%) general dentists answered that the treatment would be refused. As for reasons why care is difficult, the answer from the vast majority at general dental clinics was that infection control is not sufficiently covered, and other answers included a lack of information about dental care, thus also indicating staff were unwilling. As for infection control, no manuals had been created in 48.9% of all surveyed dental clinics. With regard to sterilizing handpieces, 256 (18.6%) general dental clinics answered that sterilization is carried out for all patients. As for wearing gloves in practice, 795 (57.0%) general dentists responded that they always wear gloves. The wearing of gloves decreased with age.
Conclusion: From these results, it appears that inadequate infection control and a lack of information about dental care make dental care for HIV patients difficult, and comprehensive standard precautions, the disclosure of information for HIV dental care, training focused on major hospitals, and furthermore, increased financial support from the government are required in order to promote cooperation in this matter.
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