Cross-Infection and Infection Control in Dental Clinics In Nablus and Tulkarm Districts

Background: Infection control had many developments in the COVID 19 pandemic, despite this, there were many complications in different health care facilities as well as dentists’ clinics due to the lack of infection control knowledge and compliance failure. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge and compliance with the infection control measures in the dental clinics in Nablus and Tulkarm districts. Method: A universal Sampling was used to assess the infection control program at the dental clinics in Nablus and Tulkarm District. The study sample involved 265 dentists. Data was collected using a questionnaire which has been sent via email between July and August 2020. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA and Post-Hock tests have been used. Statistical significance was set at ″P <0.05″. Cronbach's alpha has been conducted to ensure the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Findings: The results showed that the total positive response regard all infection control domains were (70.0%). Whereas the participants gave the highest positive response for personnel protective equipment i.e gloving (96.10%), they gave the instruments related controls the lowest responses i.e instruments sterilization were (59.40%). The analyzed data showed significant statistical differences in the compliance with infection control measures between Nablus and Tulkarm districts “p < 0.05” in the interest of dentists from Tulkarm. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there is a moderate compliance to infection control protocol in Nablus and Tulkarm dental clinics. Thus, there is a need to strengthen the adherence to infection control measures.