Patients' attitudes toward dentistry and AIDS

Article Abstract:

The response of some dentists who refused to treat patients with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) has been reported and criticized in the press. Dentists appear to be making some changes based on assumptions about patients' concerns. A telephone survey was conducted to assess patients' level of concern about AIDS and HIV infection in the dental office. Telephone contact was made with 2,000 adults; one group from metropolitan areas, the other from other areas where the incidence of AIDS was lower. The results indicated the 30 percent of the population had thought about the possibility of contracting HIV infection in the dentist's office; 63 percent of the group expressed concerned about this. Sixty percent were not sure if their dentist treated HIV-positive patients. Of those who thought their dentist was treating patients with HIV infection, 56 percent said they would not change dentists. If the dentist had HIV, 66 percent of the population said they would change dentists. Half of these individuals would change their dentist because they thought it was either very likely or somewhat likely that they would contract AIDS from the dentist. Most of those who said they would continue to seek care from an HIV-positive dentist felt that their risk of being infected was low or nonexistent. In general, dental patients in this group noticed when protection barriers, such as masks and gloves, were used by dentists; in most cases they preferred the dentist to do so. The use of gloves was endorsed more than masks and goggles. People from areas with both low and high incidence of AIDS showed equal fear regarding AIDS. Dentists can contribute to reducing this fear by showing a calm, rational response when discussing HIV and AIDS with their patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Prevention, AIDS phobia

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Dental care experience of HIV-infected men in Chicago

Article Abstract:

When AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) was related to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, dentists became cautious about treating patients with AIDS. It was believed that HIV was transmitted in the same way as hepatitis B virus, a known occupational hazard for dentists. Many dentists instituted more rigorous infection control procedures in their offices. More recent studies have shown that the risk to dentists is much less than previously thought. Surveys of dentists in the United States have suggested that AIDS patients and those patients who are HIV positive may have difficulty finding dentists who will treat them. To determine actual dental practice and learn if they have experienced difficulty in receiving dental care, a personal interview survey was conducted of 125 HIV-positive patients. Of this group 61 individuals had sought dental care and 97 percent were successful in receiving it; only one dentist refused to treat a patient. The results indicate that these patients sought dental care less often than before they learned they were HIV positive. About half of the patients who saw a dentist, told him/her of their condition. The sample of dentists described in this study may not be representative. Dentists were selected by the patients, often on recommendation of a friend or physician. The dentist may have been recommended because he/she was willing to treat HIV-positive and AIDS patients. It is also possible that dentists responded differently when confronted with an actual patient, rather than a hypothetical question. Dentists' attitudes towards these patients may also be changing. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Dentists

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Dental care experience of HIV-positive patients

Article Abstract:

It has been suggested that patients with AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and those who have HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (which causes AIDS), are not able to receive proper dental care due to their condition. The experiences of AIDS and HIV positive patients in obtaining dental care were surveyed. Information was obtained from two long-term studies in San Francisco and four focus group interviews which took place in Los Angeles or Seattle. One San Francisco group (535 respondents) was enrolled in an AIDS behavioral research study, the other (74 men) attended an AIDS clinic. The people from the two San Francisco surveys were mostly white (94 percent and 82 percent), highly educated males with an average age of 39.5 years. Of those who had actually sought dental care during the previous three years, 1.3 percent of the behavioral study group and 10.8 percent of the clinic group reported being denied care by a dentist. A previous survey reported that 63 percent of dentists said they would rather refer patients with AIDS to other dental practitioners. The discrepancy between actual denials of service reported by patients and estimates based on dentists' preferences has several possible explanations. The patients themselves selected the dentists they visited; therefore, the population of dentists they consulted was limited. Economic or ethical variables may have dominated psychological factors in the dentists' patient selection. A low correlation may exist between attitudes and actual behavior; over time the trend to deny dental care to AIDS patients may be decreasing. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

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