Dental hygienists' knowledge of HIV, attitudes towards people with HIV and willingness to conduct rapid HIV testing. Issue 4 (10th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santella, AJ; Krishnamachari, B; Davide, SH; Cortell, M; Furnari, W; Watts, B; Haden, SC
• Is Part Of: International journal of dental hygiene. Volume 11:Issue 4(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 287
• Page End: 292
• Publication Date: 2013-04-10
• Subjects: Dental hygiene -- Periodicals; Dental hygienists -- Periodicals; 617.60105
• DOI: 10.1111/idh.12022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1601-5029

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="idh12022-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="idh12022-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To normalize rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in the United States, expanded rapid HIV testing initiatives are needed outside the routine medical setting. The dental setting is a logical choice as almost two‐thirds of Americans regularly see a dental provider each year. This study was aimed to determine the dental hygienists' knowledge of HIV, attitudes towards people living with HIV and willingness to conduct rapid HIV testing.</p> </sec> <sec id="idh12022-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A national cross‐sectional survey of practicing dental hygienists and senior dental hygiene students were recruited using state dental hygiene associations, email LISTSERVS, dental hygiene programmes and continuing education conferences (<italic>n </italic>= 634).</p> </sec> <sec id="idh12022-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The mean knowledge score was 10.5/13. High versus low test‐scorers (75% of test questions or more answered correctly versus less than 75% answered correctly) did differ in their comfort level in counselling about sexual HIV prevention methods (<italic>P </italic>= 0.03) and comfort level in working with medically compromised patients (<italic>P </italic>= 0.04).</p> </sec> <sec id="idh12022-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Dental hygienists, with additional training in HIV prevention counseling and diagnostic testing, may be an appropriate profession to conduct rapid HIV testing.</p> </sec> </abstract>