JIDAM
"An Official Journal of IDA - Madras
Branch" ©2019.
Department of Public Health Dentistryz,
Thai Moogambigai Dental College and Hospital Chennai, Tamilnadu
Background: A surgical facemask plays an important role in every procedure among dental health care professionals. It acts as a barrier to prevent transmission of pathogens, infected water aerosols and many microorganisms produced in the dental setup. In order to minimize the risk of infection, dental practitioner and clinical auxiliary staff must wear suitable fluid resistance mask. This study was conducted to check the knowledge, attitude and awareness of mouth mask among dental professionals.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted between July-Sep 2019 among the postgraduates, interns, undergraduates (3rd and 4th year) of two randomly selected private dental colleges in Chennai. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate their understanding of the questions. Set of 25 closed questioners were given to the participants as a survey form. Data was collected and statistical analysis was done using SPSS.
Results: It was observed that 57.5% (195) had answered correctly that mouth mask should be used with white side facing in; 52.2% (177) had answered correctly that masks have three layers; 26.8% had answered correctly that masks can be used for maximum of 8 hours; 66.7% agreed that wearing mouth masks decreased post-operative wound infections and these findings were statistically significant. When it was asked which layer acts as a filter media barrier, 64.3% (218) had answered correctly i.e. middle. When it was asked what type of mask they preferred in dental setting, only 30.1% (102) had answered correctly as 95% BFE and PFE.
Conclusion: The risk of health care associated infections and its transmission not only involved the people who are in direct contact with the patients but also those who work in such environment. Thus, it is necessary to improve awareness among dental professionals regarding its proper usage.
Mouth mask, infection control, survey, dental professionals, pathogens.
JIDAM/Volume:6/Issue:4/ 117 - 124/October - December 2019