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Zaheer U, Shahbaz M, Zaheer N, Israr J, Riaz A, Yaqub A, Alam MK. Knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of dentists working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey. Work 2022; 72:1153-1161. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-211018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has immensely affected the world’s population at physical and psychosocial levels. Dentists are no different from other healthcare providers, as they are equally if not more exposed to the threat of getting infected. OBJECTIVE: To assess the experience and behavior of public and private sector dentists practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic and their knowledge about it. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted online by sharing google forms through email, WhatsApp, and Facebook. The survey included questions on the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of dentists practicing during COVID-19. The data was interpreted by SPSS 24 using a chi-square test, and a value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A considerable number of general dentists (26.9%) and specialists (39.4%) adopted partial suspension of clinics. Restriction’s ease allowed 50.2% of the clinicians to resume their duties. 67.9% of the patients were medicated online during the lockdown phase. There was no significant difference regarding years of experience and willingness to treat/care (p-value 0.648). Personal protective equipment (PPE) was readily available for use in public or private practices, and the respondents agreed with its efficacy in protecting the operators. Compliance with PPE wear was 50% in all the respondents. CONCLUSION: The psychosocial repercussion of the pandemic continues to affect dental practices. Our attitude needs to improve as far as PPE is concerned, with regular training workshops and continuous updates of the developing Knowledge on COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Zaheer
- Department of Orthodontics, Lahore Medical and Dental College, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Maliha Shahbaz
- Oral Biology Department, Rashid Latif Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Naauman Zaheer
- Oral Biology Department, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Junaid Israr
- Azra Naheed Dental College, Superior University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Asim Riaz
- Department of Orthodontics, FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Aneeqa Yaqub
- Department of Orthodontics, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Khursheed Alam
- Orthodontics Division, Preventive Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Al-Jouf, KSA
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Alamri A, ElSharkawy MF, Alafandi D. Occupational Physical Hazards and Safety Practices at Dental Clinics. Eur J Dent 2022. [PMID: 35728608 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1745769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Worldwide, dentistry is known as a high-level occupational hazard profession. Dental staff is usually exposed to several types of hazards which include chemical agents, physical, psychological stress, and workplace violence, biological and ergonomics. The objectives of this paper were to assess levels of occupational hazards and evaluate safety practices at dental clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS At several dental clinics, levels of noise, lighting, and radiation were measured by recommended instruments and the safety practice was evaluated using a validated and reliable questionnaire (during 3 months of 2020). RESULTS The mean levels of noise ranged between 46.3 and 67.2 dB, while the noise dose percent (noise exposure level) ranged between 60.7 and 77.6 dB. The mean levels of lighting ranged from 236.3 lux in the X-ray room to 1,080.3 lux in the dental laboratory. The mean levels of radiation ranged from 7.8 to 12.1 µrem. The mean levels of the three physical hazards were lower than their permissible levels at all locations. CONCLUSION Levels of noise in dental clinic were affected by the change in the work activities, while this factor has no effect on the levels of lighting and radiation except for certain processes. The demographic variables such as gender, specialization, and the average number of patients showed a significant association with physical hazards, safety practices, while there was no significant association with radiation protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz Alamri
- Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Fathy ElSharkawy
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Imam Abdul Rahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Dalal Alafandi
- Department of Dental Clinics, the Armed Forces Hospitals, Dharan, Saudi Arabia
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Wolf TG, De Col L, Banihashem Rad SA, Castiglia P, Arghittu A, Cannavale M, Campus G. How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Risk Awareness in Dentists: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19094971. [PMID: 35564366 PMCID: PMC9103177 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19094971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dentists are on the frontline of infection, especially when it comes to respiratory viruses like the new coronavirus. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a scoping review to better understand dentists’ risk awareness, awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, preventive measures, and effective methods of COVID-19 infection prevention and management. This paper systematically assesses the published literature on dentistry and COVID-19. Various electronic databases including Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and MEDLINE via PubMed were searched up to 9 September 2021. Overall, 39 papers were included. Almost the entirety of dentists (94.5%) reported awareness of the three most common COVID-19 symptoms, and a risk awareness score of about 90% was shown, while 88.2% of dentists reported adopting preventive measures. More than 50% did not want to treat infected people. While 70.3% of dentists recommended usage of N95 masks, the rate of dentists using them was below 40%. Sufficient awareness of risks during the pandemic was found in dentists. Although they were using preventive measures, there remains upside potential for adopting all recommended measures. Further, the usage of N95 masks is improvable, even though the benefit of wearing them could not be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gerhard Wolf
- Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (T.G.W.); (L.D.C.); (S.A.B.R.)
- Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Leonardo De Col
- Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (T.G.W.); (L.D.C.); (S.A.B.R.)
| | - Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad
- Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (T.G.W.); (L.D.C.); (S.A.B.R.)
| | - Paolo Castiglia
- Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 3/c, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (P.C.); (A.A.)
- Direzione Igiene e Controllo delle Infezioni Ospedaliere, University Hospital of Sassari, Via Padre Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonella Arghittu
- Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 3/c, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (P.C.); (A.A.)
- Direzione Igiene e Controllo delle Infezioni Ospedaliere, University Hospital of Sassari, Via Padre Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Guglielmo Campus
- Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (T.G.W.); (L.D.C.); (S.A.B.R.)
- Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 3/c, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (P.C.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-312-664-0987
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Sotomayor-Castillo C, Li C, Kaufman-Francis K, Nahidi S, Walsh LJ, Liberali SA, Irving E, Holden AC, Shaban RZ. Australian dentists' knowledge, preparedness, and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infect Dis Health 2022; 27:49-57. [PMID: 34750088 PMCID: PMC8523486 DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a global health crisis. Close contact with the mucous membranes and respiratory secretions of patients and aerosol-generating procedures renders dentists and other oral health professionals at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. We examined dentists' knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey of dentists with a current membership with The Australian Dental Association (ADA) was conducted between March and April 2021. RESULTS Of the 368 survey responses, most dentists (72.3%) reported having a good level of knowledge about COVID-19, with most visiting the ADA Federal COVID-19 (74.7%) and state/territory department of health websites (62.8%), respectively to source up-to-date information. Most dentists (87.6%) felt prepared to manage COVID-19 into the future, although 66% reported not receiving training or certification in the use of PPE. Over half (58.7%) reported not being concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2 at work, with some (28.9%, n = 98/339) feeling more stressed than usual and having heavier workloads. CONCLUSION COVID-19 had significant impact in oral healthcare in Australia. Dentistry has adapted to the varied challenges raised by the pandemic. Comprehensive training and detailed guidelines were fundamental for successful patient management during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sotomayor-Castillo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Cecilia Li
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Keren Kaufman-Francis
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Shizar Nahidi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Laurence J Walsh
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.
| | - Sharon Ac Liberali
- Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Special Needs Unit, Adelaide Dental Hospital, SA Dental, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
| | | | - Alexander Cl Holden
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney School of Dentistry, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia; Sydney Dental Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia.
| | - Ramon Z Shaban
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Division of Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health, Westmead Hospital and Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, NSW, Australia; New South Wales Biocontainment Centre, Western Sydney Local Health District and New South Wales Health, NSW, Australia.
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McNally M, Rock L, Gillis M, Bryan S, Boyd C, Kraglund F, Cleghorn B. Reopening Oral Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic through a Knowledge Exchange Coalition. JDR Clin Trans Res 2021; 6:279-290. [PMID: 33902341 PMCID: PMC8207488 DOI: 10.1177/23800844211011985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 novel coronavirus closed oral health care in Nova Scotia (NS) Canada in March 2020. Preparing for a phased reopening, a knowledge exchange coalition (representing government, academia, hospitals, oral health professions, and regulators) developed return-to-work (RTW) guidelines detailing the augmentation of standard practices to ensure safety for patients, oral health care providers (OHPs), and the community. Using online surveys, this study explored the influence of the RTW guidelines and related education on registered NS OHPs during a phased return to work. METHODS Dissemination of R2W guidelines included website or email communiques and interdisciplinary education webinars that coincided with 2 RTW phases approved by the government. Aligned with each phase, all registered dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants were invited to complete an online survey to gauge the influence of the coalition-sponsored education and RTW guidelines, confidence, preparedness, and personal protective equipment use before and after the pandemic. RESULTS Three coalition-sponsored multidisciplinary webinars hosted 3541 attendees prior to RTW. The response to survey 1 was 41% (881/2156) and to survey 2 was 26% (571/2177) of registrants. Survey 1 (82%) and survey 2 (89%) respondents "agreed/strongly agreed" that R2W guidelines were a primary source for guiding return to practice, and most were confident with education received and had the skills needed to effectively treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Confidence and preparedness improved in survey 2. Gowns/lab coat use for aerosol-generating procedures increased from 26% to 93%, and the use of full face shields rose from 6% to 93% during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS A multistakeholder coalition was effective in establishing and communicating comprehensive guidelines and web-based education to ensure unified reintegration of oral health services in NS during a pandemic. This multiorganizational cooperation lay the foundation for responses to subsequent waves of COVID-19 and may serve as an example for collaboratively responding to future public health threats in other settings. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT The return-to-work strategy that was developed, disseminated, and assessed through this COVID-19 knowledge exchange coalition will benefit oral health practitioners, professional regulators, government policy makers, and researchers in future pandemic planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- M McNally
- Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - L Rock
- School of Dental Hygiene, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - M Gillis
- Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia, Bedford, NS, Canada
| | - S Bryan
- College of Dental Hygienists of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - C Boyd
- Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - F Kraglund
- Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - B Cleghorn
- Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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