Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected dentists globally, both financially and mentally. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of dentists in Caribbean countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A non-probability sample was obtained from dentists in more than ten different Caribbean countries. They were invited to complete a self-reported questionnaire, which was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021. Ethics approval was sought and an exemption was received from the UWI ethics committee. Results: One hundred and fifty-two dentists responded. More than one-third (38.8%) were in the >35–45 age group, and 58.6% were females. Most (84.9%) were general dentists and 75% were stressed by the COVID-19 situation with 80.9% being affected financially. The majority, 94.7%, believed that the highest risk of transmission of COVID-19 was via aerosol-generating procedures and 87.5% were worried about contracting it clinically. The majority (69.1%) were willing to receive the vaccine, the main reason reported for vaccine hesitancy was due to the possible side effects (35.3%). Most (75%) consumed alcohol. When the locus of control was determined, 54.6% felt they were in control of protecting themselves while 52% felt that external factors controlled their lives. Conclusions: The findings suggest that most dentists in the Caribbean were knowledgeable about COVID-19 and followed current guidelines in their practice and were willing to receive the vaccine.
Highlights
The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus disease of 2019, commonly known as COVID-19, changed all aspects of daily lives, including that of the practice of dentistry
Dentists adapted their practices based on emerging data, which involved triaging and incorporated the use of new forms of personal protective equipment (PPE)
In the Caribbean, dentists have been performing emergency treatment only, such as extractions, and some countries changed this policy as the infection rate decreased; while others resumed routine treatment, others have not been able to do this given the current crisis in their countries [8,9,10,17]
Summary
The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus disease of 2019, commonly known as COVID-19, changed all aspects of daily lives, including that of the practice of dentistry. Dentists adapted their practices based on emerging data, which involved triaging and incorporated the use of new forms of personal protective equipment (PPE). This highly contagious virus was caused by a recent strain of the novel coronavirus termed SARS-CoV2, which began in December 2019 and soon became a pandemic by March 2020 [1]. Conclusions: The findings suggest that most dentists in the Caribbean were knowledgeable about COVID-19 and followed current guidelines in their practice and were willing to receive the vaccine
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