Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the opinions of dentists on the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and to determine their professional continuity during pandemic, protective practices in social life in Turkey. Material and Methods: Ethical approval and the mandatory formal permissions were obtained. The data were gathered via an e-questionnaire, which was e-mailed to all members of Turkish Dental Association (n=30,615), between 15 March-15 April 2021. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to sociodemographic, living and professional practice characteristics during COVID-19 pandemic, and opinions about COVID-19 vaccine. Results: A total of 364 dentists (216 female, 148 male) with the mean (±standard deviation) age of 42.1 (±13.8) participated in this descriptive study. Of all, 89.1% had continued working and 95.7% continued aerosol operation practice during the pandemic, and 27 (7.4%) were infected with COVID-19. One in 4 (26.2%) of all stated that they were separating themselves from family members in the domestic life like sleeping, eating and relaxing periods. Of all, 326 (89.6%) vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine, and 58.5% thought that the vaccination should be mandatory for everyone. Being age ≥35 years [odds ratio (OR)=6.57; confidence interval (CI)=2.06- 21.01], not having pneumonia vaccine during the pandemic (OR=13.97; CI=1.28-152.06), thought of application of the vaccine not to be mandatory (OR=18.81; CI=5.84-60.58) and not recommending vaccination to family members (OR=19.99; CI=6.84-58.49) were statistically significantly related with not having COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, the dentists participated in this study showed not very high compliance of vaccination. As a role model in public, dentists have to be aware of their responsibility related to COVID-19 vaccination and protective behaviors.
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