Changes in public concern about transmission of AIDS from dentist to patient after CDC report.

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the impact on the public of a report from the Centers for Disease Control of the possible transmission of AIDS from a Florida dentist to his patient. Differences in the findings between two identical telephone surveys conducted approximately five months apart are reported. The second survey occurred approximately three months following the CDC report. The response rates to spring and fall 1990 surveys were 68.9 percent and 69.9 percent, respectively. Approximately 60 percent of the respondents to the fall survey reported that they had read or heard of the incident. Public concern about the transmission of AIDS in the dental office increased significantly following the CDC report. This concern was expressed in a decreased willingness to remain in the practice of dentists infected with AIDS or those who treated infected patients. In addition, respondents to the fall survey were less respectful of provider and patient confidentiality.