Top

BMC Health Services Research

Published in:

Open Access 01-06-2015 | Research article

Herpes labialis and Nigerian dental health care providers: knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and refusal to treat

Authors: Clement Chinedu Azodo, Agnes O. Umoh

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

The few existing studies on herpes labialis among health care workers have been predominantly among non-dental health care workers. The purpose of this study was to determine Nigerian dental health care providers’ knowledge of, attitudes toward, preventive behaviors for, and refusal to treat patients with herpes labialis.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among final-year dental students at the University of Benin, dental house officers, and residents at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Data collection was via a self-administered questionnaire. Bivariate statistics and logistic regression were used to relate the dependent and independent variables.

Results

Of the 120 questionnaires distributed, 110 were completed and returned, giving a 91.7 % retrieval rate. However, 15 of the returned questionnaires were discarded because they were improperly completed, leaving a total of 95 questionnaires for final analysis in this study. The majority of participants were over 28 years old (54.7 %), male (67.4 %), unmarried (66.3 %), and postgraduate dental health care providers (51.6 %). Less than half (43.2 %) of participants demonstrated adequate overall knowledge of herpes labialis. About one-tenth (10.5 %) and more than three-quarters (87.4 %) of participants reported a positive attitude and performance of adequate preventive behaviors, respectively. A total of 16.8 % of participants reported a high tendency to refuse treatment to patients with herpes labialis. Although not statistically significant, young, unmarried, male undergraduate participants reported a greater likelihood to refuse treatment to herpes labialis patients. We found a statistically significant positive correlation between attitude and refusal to treat patients with herpes labialis. However, marital status and the attitude of participants toward these patients emerged as the determinants for refusal to treat patients with herpes labialis.

Conclusions

Data from this study revealed a high level of inadequate knowledge, negative attitudes, and reasonably adequate preventive behaviors with respect to herpes labialis. One out of every six dental health care workers studied reported having refused to treat patients with herpes labialis. Unmarried dental health care providers and those with negative attitudes toward herpes labialis patients were more prone to refuse treatment to these patients.

Available only for authorised users

Raborn GW, Grace MG. Recurrent herpes simplex labialis: selected therapeutic options. J Can Dent Assoc. 2003;69(8):498–503.PubMed

Rowe NH, Heine CS, Kowalski CJ. Herpetic whitlow: an occupational disease of practicing dentists. J Am Dent Assoc. 1982;105(3):471–3.CrossRefPubMed

Browning WD, McCarthy JP. A case series: herpes simplex virus as an occupational hazard. J Esthet Restor Dent. 2012;24(1):61–6.CrossRefPubMed

McCarthy GM, Koval JJ, MacDonald JK. Factors associated with refusal to treat HIV-infected patients: the results of a national survey of dentists in Canada. Am J Public Health. 1999;89(4):541–5.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Giuliani M, Lajolo C, Sartorio A, Lacaita MG, Capodiferro S, Cauda R, et al. Attitudes and practices of dentists treating patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Med Sci Monit. 2009;15(6):H49–56.

Khosravanifard B, Rakhshan V, Ghasemi M, Pakdel A, Baradaran-Eghbal S, Sheikholeslami R, et al. Tehran dentists’ self-reported knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and observed willingness to treat simulated HIV-positive patients. East Mediterr Health J. 2012;18(9):928–34.PubMed

Khosravanifard B, Rakhshan V, Najafi-Salehi L, Sherafat S. Tehran dentists’ knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B and their willingness to treat simulated hepatitis B positive patients. East Mediterr Health J. 2014;20(8):498–507.PubMed

Brailo V, Pelivan I, Škaricić J, Vuletić M, Dulcić N, Cerjan-Letica G. Treating patients with HIV and Hepatitis B and C infections: Croatian dental students’ knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions. J Dent Educ. 2011;75(8):1115–26.PubMed

Siegel MA. Diagnosis and management of recurrent herpes simplex infections. J Am Dent Assoc. 2002;133(9):1245–9.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Arduino PG, Porter SR. Oral and perioral herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection: review of its management. Oral Dis. 2006;12(3):254–70.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Terry SD, Jones JE, Brown RH. Dental-care experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in Aotearoa New Zealand. N Z Dent J. 1994;90(400):49–55.PubMed

12.

Giuliani M, Lajolo C, Rezza G, Arici C, Babudieri S, Grima P, et al. Dental care and HIV-infected individuals: are they equally treated? Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2005;33(6):447–53.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Kanjirath PP, Peters MC, Inglehart MR. Treating patients with herpes simplex virus infections: dental and dental hygiene students’ knowledge, attitudes, and professional behavior. J Dent Educ. 2007;71(9):1133–44.PubMed

14.

Cochran WG. Sampling techniques. 3rd ed. New York: Wiley; 1977. p. 428.

15.

Walkinson AC. Primary herpes simplex in a dentist. Br Dent J. 1982;153(5):190–1.CrossRef

16.

Kohn WG, Harte JA, Malvitz DM, Collins AS, Cleveland JL, Eklund KJ. Centers for disease control and prevention. Guidelines for infection control in dental health care settings--2003. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004;135(1):33–47.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Merchant VA. Herpes viruses and other microorganisms of concern in dentistry. Dent Clin North Am. 1991;35(2):283–98.PubMed

18.

Epstein JB, Mathias RG, Gibson GB. Survey to assess dental practitioner’s knowledge of infectious disease. J Can Dent Assoc. 1995;61(6):519–25.PubMed

19.

Epstein JB, Mathias RG, Bridger DV. Survey of knowledge of infectious disease and infection control practices of dental specialists. J Can Dent Assoc. 1995;61(1):35–7. 40–44.PubMed

20.

Vitale F, Di Benedetto MA, Casuccio A, Firenze A, Calandra G, Ballarò F, et al. The influence of professional degree on the knowledge of HIV, HBV and HCV infections in dentistry practice. Ann Ig. 2005;17(3):185–96.PubMed

21.

Batoo A, Sherwani MU, Bano KA, Aasim M. Knowledge, attitude and practices of dentists about Hepatitis B and C infection in Lahore. Pak J Med Res. 2012;51(3):93–6.

22.

Kadeh H, Saravani S, Golzari P. Knowledge, attitude and practice of dentists towards patients with HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections. Avicenna J Dent Res. 2014;6(1), e21348.CrossRef

23.

Al-Sandook T, Al-Naimi R, Younis M. An investigation of dentists knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV+ and patients with other blood borne viruses in Mosul City. Al-Rafidain Den J. 2013;10(2):298–308.

24.

General Dental Council. Standards for dental professionals. 2005. http://www.gdc-uk.org/Dentalprofessionals/Standards/Documents/Standards%20for%20Dental%20Professionals.pdf.

25.

British Dental Association. Infection control in dentistry. England: BDA Advice sheet A12; 2009.

26.

Bodhade A, Dive A, Khandekar S, Dhoble A, Moharil R, Gayakwad R, et al. Factors associated with refusal to treat HIV-infected patients: National survey of dentists in India. Sci J Public Health. 2013;1(2):51–5.CrossRef

27.

Hastreiter RJ, Roesch MH, Danila RN, Falken MC. Dental health care workers’ response to the HIV epidemic. Am J Dent. 1992;5(3):160–6.PubMed

28.

Angelillo IF, Villari P, D'Errico MM, Grasso GM, Ricciardi G, Pavia M. Dentists and AIDS: a survey of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in Italy. J Public Health Dent. 1994;54(3):145–52.CrossRefPubMed

29.

Giuliani M, Tumbarello M, Marino M, Capodiferro S, Scivetti M, Rezza G, et al. Dental hygienists behaviour towards HIV-positive patients in highly active antiretroviral therapy era: a pilot survey. Int J Dent Hyg. 2011;9(3):204–10.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Sears B, Cooper C, Younai FS, Donohoe T. HIV discrimination in dental care: results of a discrimination testing study in Los Angeles County. 2011. p. 1–32.

31.

Weyant RJ, Simon MS, Bennett ME. Changes in students’ attitudes toward HIV-infected patients as the students progress through medical school. Acad Med. 1993;68(5):377–9.CrossRefPubMed

32.

Maupomé-Carvantes G, Borges-Yáñez SA. Attitudes and habits for the control of HIV and hepatitis B in dental students. Salud Publica Mex. 1993;35(6):642–50.PubMed

33.

Bennett ME, Weyant RJ, Simon M. Predictors of dental students’ belief in the right to refuse treatment to HIV-positive patients. J Dent Educ. 1993;57(9):673–9.PubMed

Title: Herpes labialis and Nigerian dental health care providers: knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and refusal to treat
Authors: Clement Chinedu Azodo
Agnes O. Umoh
Publication date: 01-06-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-1023-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Herpes labialis and Nigerian dental health care providers: knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and refusal to treat

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

Models of care for musculoskeletal health: a cross-sectional qualitative study of Australian stakeholders’ perspectives on relevance and standardised evaluation

Predictors of health worker performance after Integrated Management of Childhood Illness training in Benin: a cohort study

Strengthening health system governance using health facility service charters: a mixed methods assessment of community experiences and perceptions in a district in Kenya

Measurement and explanation of socioeconomic inequality in catastrophic health care expenditure: evidence from the rural areas of Shaanxi Province

Outbound medical tourism from Mongolia: a qualitative examination of proposed domestic health system and policy responses to this trend

The impact of the ‘Better Care Better Value’ prescribing policy on the utilisation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers for treating hypertension in the UK primary care setting: longitudinal quasi-experimental design