Exploring attitudes of white dental students regarding willingness to treat people with HIV

Abstract

This descriptive field study examines the willingness of ninety white dental students to provide care to people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus disease (HIV disease). This study suggests that perceived clinical ability, attitudes toward gay men, and white racial attitudes account for white dental students' willingness to provide dental care to patients with HIV disease. Likewise, this study suggests that white dental students' perception of risk of occupational infection with HIV is uniquely predicted by the same variables. A hierarchical regression found that in white dental students, racial attitudes were significant predictors of willingness to treat persons with HIV disease beyond the significant contributions of perceived clinical competence and attitudes toward gay men. In terms of perceptions of occupational risk, results of the hierarchical regression were that both perceived clinical competence and attitudes toward gay men were significant predictors. Thus, the results of this study show that attitudes regarding cultural diversity can influence clinical intentions.