Evaluating the Impact of a Comprehensive HIV Education Lecture on Dental Students' Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Individuals Living with HIV: A Pre – and Post-Test Study

Abstract

HIV infection remains a major public health challenge globally. Despite advance- IV infection remains a major public health challenge globally. Despite advancements in treatment and prevention, stigmatized attitudes towards individuals liv- ents in treatment and prevention, stigmatized attitudes towards individuals living with HIV can impact their accessibility to healthcare services, including den- ng with HIV can impact their accessibility to healthcare services, including dental care. Dental students, as prospective healthcare providers, have a crucial role al care. Dental students, as prospective healthcare providers, have a crucial role in enhancing these individuals' quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the n enhancing these individuals' quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an educational lecture on dental students' attitudes and behaviors to- mpact of an educational lecture on dental students' attitudes and behaviors towards individuals living with HIV. The study employed a pre – and post-test de- ards individuals living with HIV. The study employed a pre – and post-test design to evaluate the effect of an educational lecture on dental students' attitudes ign to evaluate the effect of an educational lecture on dental students' attitudes and behaviors towards people living with HIV. A total of 123 dental students nd behaviors towards people living with HIV. A total of 123 dental students were surveyed before and after the lecture to assess changes in their knowledge, ere surveyed before and after the lecture to assess changes in their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to HIV care. There was a signi ttitudes, and behaviors relating to HIV care. There was a significant increase cant increase in students' understanding of HIV, its transmission, and necessary support for n students' understanding of HIV, its transmission, and necessary support for people living with HIV following the lecture. This improvement led to a positive shift in attitudes towards individuals living with HIV, including increased tive shift in attitudes towards individuals living with HIV, including increased comfort discussing HIV, willingness to provide medical care to HIV patients, omfort discussing HIV, willingness to provide medical care to HIV patients, and readiness to interact socially with individuals living with HIV. Nonetheless, nd readiness to interact socially with individuals living with HIV. Nonetheless, some reluctance and stigma persisted in certain social scenarios involving people ome reluctance and stigma persisted in certain social scenarios involving people living with HIV. Educational interventions, such as lectures, can substantially iving with HIV. Educational interventions, such as lectures, can substantially infl uence the understanding and attitudes of future dental professionals towards uence the understanding and attitudes of future dental professionals towards individuals living with HIV. However, targeted initiatives may still be necessary ndividuals living with HIV. However, targeted initiatives may still be necessary to address remaining areas of stigma and hesitance concerning social interac- o address remaining areas of stigma and hesitance concerning social interactions with people living with HIV.