Evaluation of Transmissible Diseases and Preventive Measures Awareness Level among Dental Auxiliaries in Dental Schools of Kerala: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of awareness of transmissible diseases and preventive measures among dental auxiliaries. Materials and methods:The current cross-sectional study comprised 290 dental auxiliaries across dental schools of Kerala.Each dental college received a self-administered questionnaire for each member of the auxiliary staff that included personal information such as age, sex, and confirmation of a particular employment within the practice.The questionnaire mainly included an awareness regarding transmissible diseases and previous infection/immunization status for hepatitis B (HBV), varicella and herpes zoster, tuberculosis (TB), rubella, and COVID.Both percentage and frequency were used to describe the qualitative characteristics.To find associations between variables, the Chi-square test was employed.If the probability value was <0.05, it was considered statistically significant. Results:The response rate in the present study was 100%.Among the 290 subjects, the majority age-group between 41 and 50 years constituted about 39%.Among the subjects, 77% were dental assistants, 19% were dental receptionists, 3% were dental hygienists, and 1% were dental technicians.About 97% were aware of the potential for contracting transmissible diseases, 95% were aware of blood-borne infections, and 93% were aware of airborne infections such as TB, varicella and rubella.Among the dental auxiliaries, 36, 48, 39, and 27% were immunized against HBV, TB, varicella, and rubella, respectively. Conclusion:The present study concluded that the dental auxiliaries exhibited a high level of awareness towards transmissible diseases, including blood-borne and airborne infections.However, there are gaps in immunization rates against HBV, TB, varicella, and rubella, despite this awareness.Dental assistants exhibited superior knowledge and were more inclined to use personal protective measures compared to other dental auxiliaries.Clinical significance: Transmissible diseases, caused by blood-borne and airborne pathogens such as HBV, hepatitis C (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), TB, varicella, rubella, and COVID pose a significant risk to healthcare workers (HCWs), including dental auxiliaries.Adequate knowledge and awareness about these diseases and preventive measures are crucial for maintaining a safe working environment and preventing the transmission of infections.