Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Knowledge of COVID‑19 and its implications in dental treatment, and practices of personal protective equipment among dentists: A survey‑based assessment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Vivek Kumar Bains
. Rhythm Bains 1
. Vivek Gupta 2
. Sanjeev Kumar Salaria 3

1 Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

2 Department of Periodontology, Dental Institute, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS),Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

3 Kalka Dental College and Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oral health-care providers are always at a risk of transmitting or acquiring airborne,
saliva-borne, or blood-borne infections due to their proximity to the patient’s mouth, contact with
saliva, and handling of sharp instruments. the aim this study was to evaluate the knowledge of the
dentists regarding COVID-19, methods to prevent its transmission, and implications of COVID-19
in dental treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional online survey. There were 35 questions
in total, divided into sections of knowledge of COVID-19, practices of personal protective
equipment (PPE), and knowledge of implications of COVID-19 in dental treatment. Both convenience
sampling and snowball sampling were used, so that maximal participation could be ensured. The
results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and making comparisons among various groups.
The data were summarized as proportions and percentages (%). All the associations were tested
using the Chi‑square test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Statistical analyses were
performed using SPSS version 19.0.
RESULTS: 26.8% of respondents had a high knowledge, 61.5% had good knowledge, 10.1%
had low knowledge, and 6 (1.5%) had nil knowledge about COVID‑19. No significant association
was found between qualification and knowledge level among the respondents (P = 0.053). Both
graduates and postgraduates had low knowledge regarding effective PPE components (P = 0.053),
donning (P = 0.888), and doffing (P = 0.745). Only 52.9% of postgraduates and 43.7% graduates
answered correctly about the sequence of donning, and 47.9% of postgraduates and 46.1% of
graduates had knowledge regarding correct doffing sequence of PPE. Furthermore, knowledge was
low regarding the implications of COVID-19 in dental treatment.
CONCLUSION: Although the dentists were found to have high/good knowledge scores regarding
COVID-19, there was a lack of knowledge regarding hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, and implications
of COVID-19 in dental treatment. Thus, they need to be trained and sensitized regarding the same.

Keywords

Aerosol
COVID-19
dentists
personal protective equipment
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 2
February 2021
Pages 1-7

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