Ageing People Living with HIV/AIDS, PLWHA; More Dental Challenges; the Romanian Dental Professional’s Point of View
Florentina Caministeanu,
Loredana Sabina Cornelia Manolescu,
Mădălina Adriana Malița,
Viorel Ștefan Perieanu,
Elena Cristina Marcov,
Iuliana Babiuc,
Camelia Ionescu,
Cristina Florentina Pîrvu,
Radu Catalin Costea,
Ioana Voinescu,
Liliana Burlibasa,
Irina Prasacu,
Mihai Burlibasa
Affiliations
Florentina Caministeanu
Department of Dental Technology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Loredana Sabina Cornelia Manolescu
Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Virology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Mădălina Adriana Malița
Department of Dental Technology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Viorel Ștefan Perieanu
Department of Dental Technology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Elena Cristina Marcov
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 0102210 Bucharest, Romania
Iuliana Babiuc
Department of Dental Technology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Camelia Ionescu
Department of Dental Prostheses, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 0102210 Bucharest, Romania
Cristina Florentina Pîrvu
Department Scientific Research Methodology—Ergonomics, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 0102210 Bucharest, Romania
Radu Catalin Costea
Department of Dental Technology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Ioana Voinescu
Department of Dental Technology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Liliana Burlibasa
Genetics Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
Irina Prasacu
Department of Fundamental Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Mihai Burlibasa
Department of Dental Technology, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Background: In Romania, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) were first acknowledged in 1989. Getting older with HIV/AIDS is now possible due to antiretroviral treatment, but it can bring dental problems due to HIV itself or to the reluctance of dental professionals to treat dental problems. Our study aims to assess the attitudes, knowledge, and practices of Romanian dental professionals regarding aging PLWHA. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional observational survey based on a self-administered questionnaire was conducted for Romanian dental professionals from October 2022 to January 2023. Results: The responders’ group profile was as follows: a mean age of 39.09 ± 0.36 years (limit: 19–75), a majority of 991 (90.01%) from urban dental offices, and 364 (33.06%) with more than twenty years’ experience. A total of 517 (46.95%) responders had an unprofessional attitude and declared that, if possible, they would avoid taking part in performing dental treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). There were 89 (8.08%) dental professionals that refused to work with PLWHA. Only 363 (32.97%) had worked with one previously. The dental professionals in rural areas refused PLWHA more frequently: 20% (N = 22) of rural dental professionals vs. 6.76% (N = 67) of urban dental professionals refused to work with PLWHA (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.16-.56). The logistic regression applied for the 1101 responders revealed after stepwise selection that the most influential factor for their refusal to work with PLWHA in our study group was being previously exposed to HIV during dental practice (OR = 14.45; 95% CI: 8.55- 24.42; p = 0.000). Conclusions: Dental educators and health care planners should promote the knowledge of prophylaxis and positive attitudes towards the treatment of PLWHA. Successful resolution of these concerns is time consuming and expensive but necessary if dentists are to satisfy their professional obligations to HIV/AIDS patients.
