Glove use in clinical practice: a survey of 2000 dentists in England and Wales

Attitudes to glove wearing by dentists practising within the NHS Regulations were tested by means of a questionnaire distributed to 2000 dentists in England and Wales. The response was 76.5%. The results indicate that 68% of the respondents wore gloves routinely for all patients and procedures, 3% never wore gloves, while the remainder (29%) wore gloves for only selected patients or selected procedures. Reasons given for not wearing gloves routinely included problems of comfort, loss of tactile sensation and the risk of cross-infection, which was perceived to be small. Of the routine glove wearers, only 12% changed gloves between patients, cost being considered to be a factor by 57% of respondents who used gloves for more than one patient. The results indicate that the respondents practising and personal details had an influence on the pattern of glove wearing, with single-handed practitioners and those who graduated before 1979 being less likely to wear gloves routinely. Comparison with the findings of earlier studies of similar type suggest that there is increased awareness in the dental profession of the necessity for glove wearing, but that there is still a need to encourage routine glove use, especially amongst certain groups of GDPs