Hepatitis B Vaccination Status of Dentists and Their Approach to Hepatitis B Infected Patients - A Questionnaire Based Survey from Maharashtra

Abstract

BACKGROUND Dentists are at high risk for Hepatitis B infection. Vaccination provides effective immunity. Not all dentists are vaccinated despite awareness and availability. Hepatitis B vaccination for health care workers is mandatory as per Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2018. The present study was planned to determine the vaccination status amongst dentists and their approach to Hepatitis B infected patients. METHODS After the institutional ethics committee permission, the study was initiated. A Google form along with an online consent was emailed to all dentists registered with Maharashtra dental council (MDC). Post survey, a short information sheet was mailed to all, about the need for Hepatitis B vaccination and certain aspects related to it. The responses were automatically transferred to a Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed. RESULTS 16,418 emails were sent out. 371 (2.3 %) participants responded, 352 (2.1 %) working dentists were included. 78.2 % (N = 273) were from urban area. 56 % (N =192) participants were in the age group 22-30 years. Male to female ratio was 0.8:1. 52.2 % (N = 184) had own clinic and 34.4 % (N = 121) were private practitioners. 56.4 % (N = 195) were dental graduates and 43.6 % (N = 151) were postgraduates. The vaccination status of dentists was found to be 74.7 % (N = 263). Only 22.1 % (N = 58) had tested for antibody titre against Hepatitis B, 55.7 % (N = 196) dentists routinely carried out hepatitis B testing of their patients. If patients tested positive, 53.1 % (N =187) provided dental care in their own clinic. CONCLUSIONS Improving the hepatitis B vaccination amongst dentists will improve their safety and reduce their fear of managing infected patients. KEY WORDS Hepatitis B, Vaccination, Dentists, Survey.