Professional training in Dental Radiology

Abstract

Professional training in Dental Radiology (PT-DR) aims to allow students at the School of Dentistry of the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora to improve their practical activities related to obtaining x-rays. One of the concerns of this practice is the effective compliance with infection control protocols, which are often neglected. The objective of this study was to compare PT-DR participating (PT Group) and non-participating (NPT Group) students regarding knowledge, attitudes and infection control practices in radiology. The study included the application of a questionnaire, consisting of 31 multiple-choices questions, addressing eight domains of infection control when obtaining intraoral radiographs. Fisher's Exact test was used to compare the answer frequencies between the two groups. In questions related to hand washing, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, there was no significant difference in the distribution of answers between the groups. Regarding the sterilization of radiographic positioners and the use of a plastic barrier on the film/digital receiver, all students in the PT Group responded “always”, differing from some students in the NPT Group, who stated that these procedures “generally” or “sometimes” are carried out. Regarding the replacement of plastic barriers, the majority of students in the PT Group stated that they always made the change, while in the NPT Group, less than half responded that they always made the change. It can be concluded that students participating in PT-DR have more effective attitudes and practices in relation to infection control, emphasizing the importance of this complementary activity.