Differences in the perceptions of HIV risk amongst dental care providers in Western Australian clinics

This paper examines the perceived risk of occupationally contracting HIV among dental care providers. This examination is based upon responses to a mailed questionnaire from all registered dentists (76 per cent response rate, n = 550) and dental therapists (63 per cent response rate, n = 208) in Western Australia during 1992. Results indicate that: 1) dental care providers who perceive a high risk of occupationally contracting HIV report a more conservative, cautious approach to HIV infection than do providers who perceive less risk of contracting the virus; 2) dental therapists are more likely than dentists to report a higher degree of perceived risk of occupationally contracting HIV; and 3) dentists are more likely than dental therapists to perceive compliance with universal precaution guidelines in dental practices in which they work. Reasons are presented for a suspicion that both sets of perceptions may be exaggerated. The need to educate dental therapists on the realistic risks of occupationally contracting HIV and to educate dentists on the value of compliance (and of appearing to comply) with universal precaution guidelines in order to help reduce undue stress and hindrances in the provision of safe and effective dental care in this era of AIDS concludes this paper.