Infection control barrier techniques. Used by physicians during routine examinations. Parental attitudes

Parents of 316 children seen in the outpatient clinics of a large pediatric teaching hospital completed a questionnaire regarding their attitudes toward the use of infection control procedures by doctors during the routine examination and treatment of their children. Results revealed that the majority of parents held favorable attitudes toward the wearing of gloves and masks during patient care activities. Parents who agreed that gloves and masks should be worn also tended to believe that diseases could be spread through cross-infection, that protective wear would prevent such infection, and that their children generally would benefit from these precautions. Parents of preschool-aged children felt that such procedures might make their children more fearful. These data indicate that many parents are basically supportive of the use of infection control procedures with their children and that such techniques do not appear to be an obstacle to effective relationships between health-care professionals and their patients.