Abstract
Background: The recent pandemic outbreak has created a huge impact on dentistry. Dental students and dental professionals are at a higher risk because dental practice comprises close communication and widespread exposure to blood, saliva, and other body fluids. It is imperative to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) among budding dentists.Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of dental students regarding dental practices during COVID-19.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among undergraduate students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire consisting of demographic, knowledge, and attitude-based questions were circulated among the study population, and the responses for the knowledge and attitude were scored. Their mean scores were then calculated. Chi-square test and nonparametric tests were computed using SPSS version 21 software, and p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: 388 undergraduate dental students have participated in the study from Saudi Arabia. 68% of the respondents believed that they had sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19. The mean score for knowledge was 5.84 out of 7. Females (6.24) scored statistically significantly higher than males (5.55, p < = 0.001). The mean attitude score was 6.34 out of 9. 93% were using PPE models, while 95% maintained social distancing. Out of all the participating dental students, only 16% were willing to treat patients during the pandemic, and 28% did not want to treat patients, 28% preferred teledentistry. The majority (44%) of dental undergraduates were willing to handle only emergency cases.Conclusion: Accurate knowledge and attitude regarding COVID-19 and diversified opinion on preventive practices during the pandemic period among budding dental professionals evident from Saudi Arabia. Mixed opinions were witnessed among them in seeking help from professional societies. The majority of dental undergraduates were willing to handle only emergency cases.
Highlights
Shutters of dental offices were pulled down with dentistry flagged as a high-risk profession on the unforeseen advent of the highly contagious viral infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), known as COVID19, in early 2020
Upon identifying the scarcity of such studies conducted to date, this study aims at evaluating the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia to assist in preparing the dental workforce in responding better to such pandemics
The study was conducted in Saudi Arabia among undergraduate dental students to investigate their knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices toward COVID19 from 01-06-2020 to 25-09-2020
Summary
Shutters of dental offices were pulled down with dentistry flagged as a high-risk profession on the unforeseen advent of the highly contagious viral infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), known as COVID19, in early 2020. The natural mode of transmission took place via aerosols generated during surgical and dental procedures, in the form of respiratory droplet nuclei or other bodily secretions and fluids or mother-to-child. This increased the chances of a person getting infected if present in the proximity of 1m of the host. The recent pandemic outbreak has created a huge impact on dentistry. It is imperative to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) among budding dentists
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
