Knowledge, Attitude & Preparedness of Clinical Dental Students Towards HIV Infection: A Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate Clinical dental students’ knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission, their attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), preparedness in infection control, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) knowledge and correlations between these domains.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 202 clinical dental students (undergraduates, interns, postgraduates) in India. A 40-item digital survey assessed demographics, knowledge (3-point Likert scale), attitudes (5-point Likert scale), infection control preparedness (5-point Likert scale), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) knowledge (multiple-choice). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney tests, and Spearman correlations.

Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge (mean score: 58.17%), with notable gaps in PEP regimens (40.47% accuracy).Their  Attitudes toward PLWHA were poor (mean: 3.25/5), reflecting persistent stigma, while infection control preparedness was strong (mean: 8.35/10). Postgraduates exhibited significantly higher knowledge (p = 0.001) and more positive attitudes (p = 0.049) than undergraduates. A weak positive correlation emerged between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.202, p ≤ 0.05), but no significant links existed between knowledge/preparedness or attitude/preparedness.

Conclusion: Despite reasonable technical preparedness and moderate HIV/AIDS knowledge, dental students displayed inadequate empathy and PEP understanding, highlighting systemic gaps in education. Curricular reforms integrating ethical training, experiential learning, and targeted PEP education are urgently needed to reduce stigma and align clinical competence with equitable care for PLWHA.