The Effects of Computerized Electronic Prompts in Influencing Dental Hygiene Students’ Compliance with Infection Control Protocols

Abstract

Background: In a health care setting, infection control protocols are established to ensure patient and provider safety. Research suggests provider compliance with infection control protocols decreases over time and that frequent training interventions are needed to sustain and improve compliance. The success of computerized prompts in medicine suggests investigation in the dental environment is warranted. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of computerized prompts on the cross-contamination in a dental school clinic. Methods: A convenience sample of twenty-two senior dental hygiene students participated in the study. Microbial samples were collected after initial patient treatment and after students had completed cubicle disinfection. Computerized prompts were then introduced and, after students completed three rounds of computerized prompts, final microbial samples were collected and counted. Results: No statistically significance was found after the computerized prompt intervention was implemented. Conclusion: The keyboard was the most contaminated surface after disinfection and the most irregular object in the operatory with deep grooves and consistent use. Students appeared to be compliant with infection control protocol. No statistically significance differences in initial or residual contamination was reported after prompt intervention.