Dental Professional's Knowledge, Preventive Awareness and Attitude Towards COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward the Novel Coronavirus Infection in Dental Laboratories in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to assess dental technologists/technicians knowledge, attitudes, and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among workers in dental laboratories in Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire was developed based on previous literature and distributed online. The questionnaire assessed the study population's knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding infection control protocol for COVID-19. Descriptive statistics of categorical variables were conducted. The response rate was 58.3%, where most respondents are male at a rate of 97%. Most of the participants (82%) were aware of the various infection control measures for COVID-19 in a dental laboratory. Forty-eight participants showed a level of knowledge range between 80 and 100%, while 27 and 30 participants reported moderate and low level of knowledge, respectively. Only 67% of the participants strongly agree that dental cast and fabricated/repaired restorations should be transferred in a very close and protective package to control infection. About 70% of participants indicated they always wear protective gear/goggles and should be warned while working in the dental laboratory. As the pumice slurry was utilized frequently to clean and polish the prostheses, 66% of participants agreed that pumice slurry should be always changed regularly. Regarding COVID-19 infection control procedures, dental technologists/technicians showed good knowledge, attitude, and practice; however, considering how infectious the virus is, more measures should be taken into consideration. Effective communication and collaboration between the laboratory and the dental clinic are essential for infection control.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental health professionals toward dental impression disinfection protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia- a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Despite the updated guidelines on dental impression disinfection protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, adherence to such procedures has not been studied among dental health professionals in Saudi Arabia. Understanding DHPs' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 is crucial in assessing a willingness to adhere to the recommendations provided by health authorities in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 via dental impressions impacting patient safety and infection control measures. Hence, this study aimed to assess dental health professionals' (DHPs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward dental impression disinfection protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted from 14 December 2022 to 21 March 2023 among practicing dentists, dental assistants (DA), dental laboratory technicians (DT), and dental hygienists in Saudi Arabia. A validated and reliable questionnaire that consisted of 38 items along with demographic variables was prepared to collect the data. Using Google Forms, a questionnaire link was prepared and shared on the social media platforms of DHPs in Saudi Arabia. A descriptive analysis was conducted to report the percentages and frequencies. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were analyzed using an Independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation tests.

RESULTS

A total of 718 DHPs voluntarily participated in the survey. Most of the DHPs exhibited average knowledge 392 (54.6%), neutral attitudes 393(54.7%), and adequate 549 (76.5%) practice towards dental impression disinfection protocol. The mean knowledge score differed significantly across nationality (p = 0.013), type of DHPs (p < 0.001), qualification (p = 0.045), and experience (p = 0.028) of the study participants. Significant differences in attitude towards impression disinfection were observed in different age groups (p = 0.002), qualifications (p = 0.015), and experiences (p = 0.024) of the DHPs. Similarly, practice varied across different age groups (p = 0.010), nationality (p = 0.013), type of DHPs (p = 0.019), qualification (p = 0.044), experience (p = 0.041), and COVID-19 Infection (p = 0.006). Moreover, a significant positive correlation between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.258, p < 0.01), knowledge-practice (r = 0.283, p < 0.01), and attitude-practice (r = 0.196, p < 0.01) was observed.

CONCLUSION

DHPs considered in this study demonstrated average knowledge and attitudes toward impression disinfection, requiring improvement through continuous dental education and training. However, they displayed acceptable dental impression disinfection practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is highly recommended that continuing education programs should mainly reinforce the knowledge of sodium hypochlorite, iodophor, and phenolics and their concentrations to be used as an impression disinfectant. Additionally, it should focus on techniques of disinfecting elastomeric, hydrocolloid, zinc oxide and eugenol, and impression compound materials to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 based on Saudi ministry of health guidelines.

Factors Associated with the Level of Knowledge about Biosafety against COVID-19 in Peruvian Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Study under a Multivariable Regression Model

AIM

Biosafety is a set of preventive measures aimed at controlling risk factors arising from biological, physical, and/or chemical agents. This topic is particularly important in the dental field since saliva is the main biological agent of the transmission of coronavirus. The present study aimed to determine the factors associated with the level of knowledge about biosafety against COVID-19 in Peruvian dentistry students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study evaluated 312 Peruvian dentistry students. A validated 20-question questionnaire was used to measure the level of knowledge. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare levels of knowledge between categories of each variable. A logit model was used to evaluate associated factors such as sex, age, marital status, place of origin, academic year of study, being in the academic upper third, history of COVID-19, and living with vulnerable family members. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered.

RESULTS

36.2%, 31.4%, and 32.4% presented poor, fair, and good knowledge levels, respectively. Students under 25 years of age were 64% less likely to pass the biosafety against COVID-19 questionnaire than students 25 years of age and older (OR = 0.36; CI: 0.20-0.66). Students in the academic upper third were nine times more likely to pass the test than other students (OR = 9.38; CI: 4.61-19.07). Finally, third-year students were 52% less likely to pass the exam than fifth-year students (OR = 0.48; CI: 0.28-0.83).

CONCLUSION

Only a minority of dentistry students had a good level of knowledge about biosafety against COVID-19. Younger and less educated students were more likely to fail the questionnaire. On the other hand, those students with outstanding academic performance were more likely to pass the questionnaire.

Perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infection containment training and mental state of dental residents in China: A longitudinal study

Background

COVID-19 has presented a challenge for dental settings and dental schools: how to continue providing dental care and maintain education during the pandemic while remaining healthy. We highlight the necessity of infection containment control training for dental residents and rethink the tasks of safeguarding trainees' health and cultivating their abilities to deal with public health crises in the future. This paper may also serve as a health policy reference for policy makers.

Objective

The study aimed to compare the formats, frequency, contents, emphasis, and test scores of infection containment control training pre- and post-pandemic. Besides, after the COVID-19 outbreak, we assessed the increased anxiety level, communication difficulties, and confidence of dental residents impacted by the pandemic.

Methods

A total of 251 dental residents in Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were recruited to complete a questionnaire of their routine involvement in infection control training before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. A self-designed 10-point Likert scale was used to assess the increased anxiety level, communication difficulties, and confidence in facing with the future public health crisis impacted by the pandemic.

Results

After the outbreak, although more trainees chose online assessment than offline assessment, most of them (74.90%) still preferred in-person training rather than online training. Contents that trainees had been focusing on were affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Thereafter, they were more inclined to learn crisis management. Over half of the participants (56.17%) participated in training more frequently after the outbreak. However, postgraduate students participated in training less frequently than others after the outbreak (p < 0.01). First-year trainees accounted for the majority in the population who emphasized considerably on infection control training and whose test scores had increased after the outbreak. In addition, the percentage of women scoring increasingly in post-pandemic assessment was significantly higher than that of men. In this study, the average increased anxiety level caused by COVID-19 was 5.51 ± 2.984, which was positively related to communication difficulties with patients caused by the pandemic. The trainees whose homes were located in Hubei Province showed higher increased anxiety levels (8.29 ± 2.93) impacted by the pandemic than the trainees from other provinces (p < 0.05). However, the former's confidence in coping with future public health crises was not significantly different from that of others (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Owing to the impact of COVID-19, the contents that the trainees focused on, frequency, emphasis, and test scores of infection containment control training were changed. Some recommendations have been provided for policy makers to attach importance to crisis-based training to cultivate dental residents in the post-pandemic era.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Risk Awareness in Dentists: A Scoping Review

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.

Conscious sedation in dentistry: knowledge and practice among dental professionals in Tanzania

Background

Conscious sedation is a useful adjunct in the treatment of patients in dentistry; however, a lack of knowledge among the dental profession regarding sedation is a restricting factor in the practice of dental sedation. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice of sedation in dentistry among dental professionals in Tanzania.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted for five months targeting all practicing dental professionals in Tanzania. A modified questionnaire contained 14 questions regarding knowledge about sedative agents and a section on the practice of sedation. The data obtained from this study were coded and entered into a computer program and analyzed using SPSS software version 23.0. The data are presented as frequencies and percentages in tables and charts. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results

The age range of participants was between 24 and 63 years (mean 36.6 ± 7.7 years). There were 107 men (78.1%), and the male-to-female ratio was 3.6:1. The majority (76.6%) of participants only had an undergraduate dental degree. Thirty-one percent of participants only worked in publicly owned health facilities. Slightly more than half (59.9%) of participants had satisfactory knowledge regarding sedation in dentistry. There was no statistically significant association between the level of sedation-related knowledge and the demographic characteristics of the participants. Only 21.9% reported using sedation in their practice, and the most commonly used sedative drug was diazepam. The reasons for not using dental sedation in clinical practice included a perceived lack of knowledge on sedation, lack of equipment, and cost.

Conclusion

Most dental professionals in Tanzania have basic knowledge of sedation in dentistry, although knowledge regarding sedative agents is generally low. The practice of sedation in dentistry in Tanzania is very low compared to that in middle- and high-income countries. Inadequate knowledge, lack of equipment, and the cost of practicing sedation are the main reasons for not practicing sedation.

Knowledge and attitude of dental professionals toward COVID-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening global pandemic. The dental profession is considered a high-risk group in the transmission of the responsible virus.

Objective

To assess the knowledge and attitude among dental professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of dental graduates, interns, postgraduates, and dental faculty from May to July 2020. A standardized questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge and attitude of 650 participants. The questionnaire comprised 14 questions to assess general knowledge about COVID-19, 11 questions regarding knowledge about prevention of COVID-19 in dental practice, and 10 questions regarding the attitude toward preventing COVID-19.

Results

Among the study population, only 376 (57.8%) knew the causative virus for COVID-19. Only 425 (65.3%) knew about rinsing the mouth with an antimicrobial solution or 1% hydrogen peroxide before the dental procedure. Regarding the hand hygiene guidelines, 357 (54.9%) had knowledge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 377 (58.0%) about World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. At the time of our survey, 72% of the participants showed sufficient knowledge, while 28% had low or insufficient knowledge about COVID-19.

Conclusion

While there was a lack of knowledge among dental professionals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia about COVID-19, there was an excellent positive attitude toward preventing disease. Greater awareness is needed to control the spread of this disease.

Changing Patterns of Compliance with Protective Behavioral Recommendations in the Post First-Round COVID-19 Vaccine Period Among Healthcare Workers in Southern Ethiopia

Background

Healthcare providers are facing an increasing threat as a result of confronting COVID-19. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in compliance with the protective behavioral recommendations after taking the first round of COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used in which quantitative data were collected using a survey method. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample of healthcare workers who were selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling technique. From the 403 healthcare workers who participated in the survey, 236 properly completed and returned the questionnaires. After inserting it into SPSS software, data were analyzed using frequency tables, percentage distributions, and logistic regression coefficients.

Results

While 30.5% of the healthcare workers disclosed a decreasing experience of wearing mask, 30.1% revealed that their experience of regularly washing hands has decreased after taking the first round of COVID-19 vaccine. The main reasons for not regularly wearing a mask are its inconvenience (60%), the need to appear indifferent (38.5%), and that they cannot afford to buy one due to its cost (15.4%). Above all, respondents’ level of compliance with regular wearing of a mask is significantly associated with sex (OR = 3.165, P<0.05; 95% CI: 1.186–8.448), the type of organization in which they are currently working (OR = 3.553, P<0.05; 95% CI: 1.185–10.647), knowing someone ever infected by COVID-19 (OR = 0.091, P<0.001; 95% CI: 0.030–0.275), and the belief that COVID-19 causes a severe illness (OR = 0.249, P<0.05; 95% CI: 0.299–2.615).

Conclusion

We have found significant reductions in adherence to the usual protective mechanisms. Therefore, increased access to the personal protective materials, including water, should be created and the healthcare workers should be continuously informed about the serious consequences of ignorance of self-protective behavior.