Attitudes of Dental Students Towards HIV+ Patients: A Multi-Center Survey Among Italian Universities

To evaluate the attitudes of Italian dental students towards HIV-infected patients and explore factors influencing discriminatory behaviour.

This observational, multicentric survey analysed responses from dental students across Italian Dental Schools. The questionnaire covered demographic data, interactions with HIV-positive patients, knowledge of HIV infection, and adherence to preventive protocols.

A total of 470 questionnaires were analysed. Thirty two students (6.8%) reported discriminatory attitudes, with the highest prevalence in Northern Italy (9.8%), compared to 6.5% in Central Italy and 0.9% in Southern Italy (p = 0.006). Nearly half of the respondents (231/470) had been asked to treat HIV-positive patients, with requests significantly more frequent in Northern Italy (65.4%) than in Central (43.8%) and Southern Italy (22.7%) (p = 0.001). Students who treated HIV-positive patients as first operators demonstrated a higher likelihood of discriminatory behaviour (OR = 43.9, 95% CI: 5.9-327.8, p = 0.009) compared to second operators (OR = 13.4, 95% CI: 1.47-121.7, p = 0.02). Stress perception during these treatments correlated with discriminatory attitudes (ANOVA test, p = 0.008). Despite these findings, most students showed strong knowledge about HIV, with 99.8% identifying correct transmission routes and 85.6% aware of post-exposure prophylaxis. Additionally, 91.8% expressed interest in further education on HIV-dentistry topics.

The findings suggest that Italian dental students are generally well-prepared to treat HIV-positive patients without discrimination. Practical training fosters confidence, as evidenced by the high willingness to provide care even among students with no prior experience in treating HIV-positive individuals. However, geographic disparities and the influence of stress on discriminatory behaviour highlight areas for improvement in dental education.