Knowledge of Dental Health Care Workers about Standard Precautions Guidelines at Health Care Facilities in Hail Region, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate awareness and knowledge about standard precautions (SPs) guidelines among dental health care workers (DHCWs) and to explore determinants of adequate knowledge among them. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was carried out between June and September 2014 among DHCWs at health facilities in Hail region, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Out of 420 DHCWs approached for participation, 307 returned valid self-reported questionnaires with a response rate 73.1%. Although most of the participants (86.2%) were aware of the SPs guidelines, their knowledge level was inadequate. Among the overall participants, only 38.4% achieved good knowledge level with significant difference (p<0.001) between dentists (51.5%) and dental assistants (23.2%). In the bivariate analysis, the following variables were found to be associated with good knowledge: older age (=>40 years), longer experience (>10 years), dentist job, working in public sector, awareness of SPs guidelines, higher perception of institutional commitment with IC requirements and higher compliance with SPs guidelines. The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that dentist job (OR: 3.25; p<0.001), higher perception of institutional commitment with IC requirements (OR: 1.44; p=0.007) and exposure to sharps injuries and/or blood and body fluids in the last 12 months (OR: 1.89; p=0.049) were independently associated with good knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of SPs guidelines among DHCWs was inadequate. Training should be systematically evaluated to ensure adequacy and addressing training needs. Special consideration in training should be paid to dental assistants, younger staff, those with shorter practice and staff working in private sector.