Knowledge and Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control Practices in Prosthodontic Procedures Among Dental...

Background/Objectives: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential to ensure the safety of dental personnel and patients. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and compliance of dental undergraduate students, interns, and postgraduate students with IPC measures in prosthodontic procedures. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, involving 216 participants selected using stratified random sampling. A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and compliance. Statistical analyses, including the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test, were conducted to explore factors influencing knowledge and compliance levels. Results: Participants demonstrated a high level of IPC knowledge, with 93.55% correctly identifying the goal of infection control. However, gaps were noted, such as only 41.23% recognizing the recommended handwashing duration. Sex differences in knowledge were marginally statistically significant (p < 0.05), while academic level showed no significant association. Compliance was high in some areas, such as handwashing after treating patients (81.11%), but lower in others, such as disinfecting digital equipment between patients (36.87%). Higher self-confidence was significantly associated with greater knowledge scores (p < 0.05), while self-satisfaction with knowledge did not correlate with knowledge levels. Conclusions: This study highlights strong IPC measures knowledge and compliance during prosthodontic procedures among dental personnel, with some gaps in understanding and practice. Addressing these gaps through targeted training and standardized guidelines can further enhance safety and infection control in clinical settings, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.