Analysis of sterilization record management in dental clinic

Purpose: This study aims to assess the current status of sterilization record management in dental clinics and propose measures to establish a systematic sterilization log management framework.Materials and Methods: To examine the status of sterilization management, an online survey was conducted among members of the Korean Dental Association from May to June 2024. A total of 261 responses were analyzed. Frequency analysis was used to examine the general characteristics of respondents and the features of sterilization log creation and storage. Differences by type of medical institution were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at 0.05.Results: Regarding sterilization log creation, 26.8% of respondents reported that they keep such records. Among them, 72.0% of dental hospitals and 22.0% of dental clinics reported doing so, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). For sterilization log management, 24.5% reported that they manage it, with dental hospitals at 72.0% and dental clinics at 19.5%, showing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Regarding sterilization log retention, the overall rate was 67.1%, with 83.3% for dental hospitals and 61.5% for dental clinics, also showing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).Conclusion: Sterilization logs hold significance beyond mere recordkeeping, serving as foundational data for quality management in healthcare and ensuring patient safety. The introduction of standardized forms, enhancement of governmental support systems, and implementation of integrated management strategies should be discussed at the policy level.