Knowledge of undergraduate students of the course in dentistry about the transmission of covid-19 in dental offices / Conhecimento dos estudantes de graduação do curso de odontologia sobre a transmissão da covid-19 em consultórios odontológicos

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of dental students about the transmission of coronavirus in dental offices, and the biosafety measures that must be adopted to prevent its dissemination. An online questionnaire with 18 questions was applied to the students to collect the information. The sample was composed of 126 students of the dentistry course of public and private universities who had previous contact with clinical practice. The results revealed that 68.3% of the undergraduates were aware that dentists were among the health professionals who were at most risk for contamination, and 93.7% of them said that the procedures that generated aerosol in the dental office were those that led to the highest chances of transmission of COVID-19. The responses also showed the awareness of students relative to the need to use all the items of personal protective equipment (PPE), in which 90% of the participants considered masks, caps, gloves, facial protectors, aprons, and protective goggles to be essential for preventing propagation of the virus. When asked about hand hygiene, 92.1% of the students considered soap and water the best option. Based on assessment of patients’ history (recent travels, chronic diseases and present health status), 87% reported that it was also important to obtain these items of before attending a patient. It was concluded that the undergraduates had knowledge about the transmission and biosafety methods in the dental office, related to COVID-19, which would contribute to the safety of clinical attendance in the universities.