A study was done to assess and compare the levels of infection control practices amongst Year
3, 4 and 5 undergraduate dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Malaysia. This
study also compared the levels of infection control practices between the operators and the assistants
performing a similar task. A checklist was designed based on the Infection Control Guidelines published by
the Faculty of Dentistry. The audit checklist criteria were specific to the operators and assistants or common
to both. 10 pairs of students (operators and assistants) were randomly selected from Polyclinics A, B and C,
representing Year 3, 4 and 5 students respectively (n=60). The subjects were audited as soon as they
entered the clinic, during treatment and up until they exited the polyclinic. The data collected were analysed
using SPSS and Rasch model. Year 3 students performed better infection control practices (1.43 logit)
followed by Year 5 (0.96 logit) and Year 4 (0.94 logit) students. The operators in Year 5 and the assistants
in Year 3 and 4 were more compliant to infection control practices. 100% of students complied with removal
of gown before leaving the clinic. However, only 1.7% of dental students wore protective goggles or face
shield during treatment and disinfected prostheses before and after inserting into patient’s mouth.
Introduction and reinforcement of infection control practices should be incorporated at the beginning of each
academic year for all students to allow for better practice and delivery of treatment to patients.