Association of knowledge, perception, and fear regarding COVID-19 with the socioeconomic status of patients attending a dental hospital in Belagavi district: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant loss of human life over the world and poses an unparalleled public health threat. As a result, it is critical to comprehend the patients' perspectives and knowledge on the subject. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, fear, and perception regarding COVID-19 among patients attending a dental hospital in Belagavi, India, and to compare it with their socioeconomic status using Kuppuswamy scale 2019. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among patients attending the dental hospital during the complete lockdown. A total of 170 respondents were included in the study. A self-designed, validated questionnaire with 14 closed-ended questions was prepared, among which 11 questions were knowledge based, two were on perception, and one on fear. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the SPSS version 25. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 170 participants were included in the study. The age ranged between 26 and 80 years. Majority of the population (95%) knew the symptoms of COVID-19 and the measures to be taken to prevent it. An association was found between participants' educational status and their knowledge regarding signs and symptoms of novel coronavirus (P = 0.005). Most of the study participants were not aware of the distance to be kept during social distancing (45.8%). Lockdown caused financial burden to more than 70% of the study participants. Conclusion: Nonliterate youth and adults were most likely to be the hardest hit by educational, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19.