A Study to Assess Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Dental Undergraduate Students toward Infection Control

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of infection control among dental undergraduate students and explore the correlation between these variables. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1000 dental undergraduate students from various dental colleges and universities. Participants were selected using a multistage random sampling method. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, and mean scores for KAP were calculated. Correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships between KAP scores. Results: The demographic characteristics of the participants were well distributed, with 45.0% of male and 55.0% of female students. Academic years and age groups were evenly represented. The mean knowledge score was 7.45 ± 1.82 out of 10, indicating a high level of knowledge. The attitude mean score was 4.63 ± 0.89 out of 5, reflecting a positive outlook toward infection control. However, the practice mean score was 2.79 ± 0.66 out of 4, suggesting room for improvement in translating knowledge and attitudes into clinical practice. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive associations between knowledge–attitude (r = 0.695, P < 0.001), knowledge–practice (r = 0.537, P < 0.001), and attitude–practice (r = 0.465, P < 0.001) scores. Conclusions: Dental undergraduate students exhibit a good level of knowledge and a positive attitude toward infection control. However, the practical application of infection control measures during clinical training requires further emphasis. Targeted educational interventions can bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, enhancing infection control practices among future dental professionals, and contributing to improved patient safety and health-care quality.