Infection control knowledge behaviour attitute and compliance practices in selected dDental laboratories in Cape Town, South AFrica

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the dental technicians’ and technologists’ knowledge, behaviour, attitude, and compliance regarding infection control in dental laboratories in Cape Town. The study utilised mixed-methods and triangulation in a descriptive design guided by three research questions. The study selected a sample of eighty-nine (89) out of one hundred and fifteen (115) dental laboratories in Cape Town. The dental laboratories were selected through probability sampling which considered simple random sampling by lottery. However, the dental technicians and technologists in the dental laboratories were selected through non-probability sampling, using convenience sampling, which selected individuals based on the inclusion criteria of the study. The structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview questions were developed by the researcher based on reviewed literature and were used for data collection. Three professionals in the field validated the research instruments using face and content forms of validation. To assess the reliability of the instruments, a test-retest method was employed. The sets of data were correlated using the Pearson product-moment correlation to measure stability and Cronbach alpha to examine internal consistency in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 28 (IBM SPSS 28, IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y, USA), results of the test revealed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.98 and coefficient alpha of 0.9 respectively, indicating a high reliability. Data from the questionnaires (quantitative data) were analysed using descriptive statistics while data from the interviews (qualitative data) were analysed using content analysis, both were carried out descriptively. The Number Cruncher Statistical Software, 2021 (NCSS, 2021, LLC, Kaysville, Utah USA) was used for the analysis. The findings were illustrated using frequencies, percentages, and cumulative percentages. The results revealed that the dental technicians and technologists had moderately good knowledge, behaviour, and attitude to infection control. Furthermore, it revealed that there was an average level of compliance with infection control protocols in the dental laboratories. It is recommended that SADTC organise training or workshops twice or thrice a year, as this would give dental technicians and technologists options to choose a convenient time that suits them. Additionally, SADTC should create a committee whose roles would be to develop infection control guidelines and policies for dental laboratories, dental technicians, and technologists in agreement with dentists or dental clinics and ensure strict compliance with these guidelines and policies.