Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Comparison of the use of personal protective equipment and infection control in dentists and their assistants before and after the corona crisis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Narjes Akbari
. Hamid Salehiniya 1
. Farshid Abedi 2
. Hamid Abbaszadeh 3

1 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

2 PhD, Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 is a new viral outbreak in the world. Dentists and
their assistants are at greatest risk of exposure to the virus, due to close contact with patients and
dealing with aerosols. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the use of personal protective
equipment (PPE) and supplementary protective equipment (SPE) and observance of the principles
of infection control (PIC) in dentists and their assistants before and after the corona crisis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was conducted using an online survey
from May 6 to 20, 2020. Convenience sampling was used to select individuals. The questionnaire,
consisting of four general categories about the use of PPE and SPE and the observance of PIC
by dentists and their assistants before and after corona crisis, was registered at Porsline website
(https://survey.porsline.ir/s/KUt7VQB). Frequencies in each subcategory were calculated and
comparisons were done using Chi‑square test, Fisher’s exact test, and paired sample t‑test. A P < 0.05
was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in the frequency of use of PPE by dentists before and
after corona crisis for oral and dental examination and also dental procedures (P < 0.001). There
were significant differences in the frequency of use of SPE and observance of PIC before and after
corona crisis, except for different types of suction types (P = 0.22), dental handpiece (P = 0.66),
and dental unit (P = 1). There were significant differences in the frequency of use of PPE by dental
assistants before and after corona crisis (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Although the frequency of use of PPE and observance of PIC increased among
dentists and their assistants, this increase is not sufficient, especially for dental assistants, and a
higher level of use of PPE and PIC observance in face of highly contagious and life‑threatening
viruses such as corona is required.

Keywords

Coronavirus disease 2019
dentistry
infection control
personal protective equipment
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 5
June 2021
Pages 1-8

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