Indonesian Dental Students' Attitudes, Knowledge, Preparation, and Willingness to Treat HIV/AIDS Patients.

Yuniardini Septorini Wimardhani,Diah Ayu Maharani,Yuli Fatzia Ossa,Cliff Lee,Indriasti Indah Wardhany

doi:10.1055/s-0041-1740350

Yuniardini Septorini Wimardhani, Diah Ayu Maharani + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1740350

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Abstract

To assess the Indonesian dental students' knowledge of HIV/AIDS in terms of transmission and oral manifestation, the attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), the preparedness in infection control, and willingness to treat PLWHA, and assess the factors for willingness to treat PLWHA. A modified version of a questionnaire used to assess dental students' knowledge, attitude, preparedness, and willingness to treat PLWHA in China was used. The questionnaire was cross-culturally adapted into Indonesian and had been pre-tested for face validity and test and retest reliability. The dental students from 32 dental schools in Indonesia were invited to participate in the study. A total of 1,280 dental students from 23 dental schools participated in the study. This study found that only 63% of students scored higher than 70% for knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and the mean score for knowledge was 15.02 (2.4). Higher than 80% of students had a positive professional attitude toward PWLHA; however, 80% of students worried about possible disease transmission in the dental office by PLWHA and 70% of students overestimated the occupational risk when treating PLWHA. The dental students had good preparedness for infection control with a mean score for preparedness of 3.19 (0.4). The mean score for willingness was 2.5 (0.9). Willingness to treat significantly differed by the type of universities, gender, age, and clinical experience. This study showed that knowledge about HIV/AIDS correlated with the willingness to treat PLWHA among dental students. Dental students who have good knowledge about HIV infection tend to have a good willingness to treat PLWHA. The knowledge would in turn affect their attitude, preparedness, and willingness to provide care for PLWHA with confidence and comfort. This study suggests that the improvement of dental training may play an important role in changing students' perception of willingness to treat PLWHA.

Highlights

In Indonesia, as of December 2020, an estimated 543.100 people was living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) which is $0.2% of the total population of Indonesia
This study suggests that the improvement of dental training may play an important role in changing students’ perception of willingness to treat PLWHA
This study investigated several aspects related to knowledge, attitude, preparedness, and willingness of Indonesian dental students toward PLWHA

Summary

Introduction

In Indonesia, as of December 2020, an estimated 543.100 people was living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) which is $0.2% of the total population of Indonesia. This number has continued to grow since first reported in 1987.1 There are some oral manifestations associated with HIV or with its treatment that are related to the progress of HIV infection.[2] These oral manifestations may cause pain and dysfunction in the mouth. When the condition is left untreated, it may influence the systemic condition and quality of life for PLWHA.[3] many studies have shown that PLWHA faces barriers when seeking care. Some factors related to barriers from dental providers include fear of HIV transmission, disease-related, and social stigma, and the limited knowledge about the oral manifestation of HIV.[5,6] Data showing the unmet dental care needs of PLWHA in Indonesia have not been identified; in the USA, the proportion of PLWHA with unmet dental care reached up to 65%.7,8

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