Abstract
The purpose of the study was to provide the basic for the prevention of infection control by analyzing the level of recognition and practice of dental hygiene students. It is important for dental clinic staffs to know and practice infection control measures in favor of effective infection control. Thus, this study conducted an one-month questionnaire survey (during October 2008) for dental hygiene students who ever experienced in 16-week clinical practice, and analyzed total 206 questionnaire forms as collected from them, so that it could determine potential associations between their recognition and practice of infection control and thereby suggest an efficient solution for infection control in dental hygiene. 1. It was found that our students' recognition about infection control averaged $4.49{\pm}.58$ points on the whole, and they were best aware of instrumental disinfection and sterilization among other measures, which was followed by hand washing, extirpation control, post-sterilization management, personal protective outfit and instrumental surface maintenance respectively. 2. It was found that our students' practice of infection control averaged $3.85{\pm}.57$ points on the whole, and they practiced hand washing most actively among other measures, which was followed by extirpation control, post-sterilization management, instrumental disinfection and sterilization, personal protective outfit and instrumental surface maintenance respectively. 3. It was found that our students scored higher mean points in recognition about every measure of infection control than those in practice (t=15.676, p=0.000). Particularly, it was notable that there were significant differences between their mean points in recognition and practice of some infection control measures, such as instrumental surface maintenance (t=15.361, p=0.000), personal protective outfit (t=15.245, p=0.000) and instrumental disinfection and sterilization (t=11.169, p=0.000). But there was least significant difference between mean points in recognition and practice of hand washing (t=5.460, p=0.000). 4. For potential associations between recognition and practice of infection control, it was found that higher recognition was in significantly positive associations with higher practice in every measure of infection control (r=.478, p=.000), such as extirpation control (r=.630, p=.000), instrumental disinfection and sterilization (r=.477, p=.000) and post-sterilization management (r=.433, p=.000). 5. It was found that there were differences in our students' recognition depending upon availability of infection control guideline (t=4.587, p=.011), and there were significant differences in practice depending on necessity of infection control education on a statistical basis (t=2.229, p=.027). Overall, it is found that our dental hygiene students are very likely to practice hand washing and extirpation control, because both of these measures are relatively easy to practice or are considered legally binding.
