Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Preventive practice, vaccine acceptance, and knowledge toward coronavirus disease‑19: An online cross‑sectional questionnaire‑based report in Iranian dentists

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Morteza Oshagh
. Hooman Zarif Najafi 1
. Hamid Jafarzadeh 2
. Faegheh Gholinia 3
. Kazem Dalaie 4
. Habib Jahanbazi 5

1 Associate Professor, Orthodontic Research Center, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Endodontics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Orthodontist, Private Practice, Shahre Kord, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID) is predicted to cause serious mental health 
problems among healthcare providers (HCPs) especially dentists. Also understanding the influencing 
factors of the acceptance of COVID‑19 vaccination among HCPs are important aspects in the design 
of effective strategies to improve the vaccine coverage rate. Therefore, this study aimed to assess 
the knowledge, vaccination acceptance, fear, and obsession, as well as the preventive practice 
behaviors of Iranian dentists and dental students in late 2020 toward COVID‑19.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, web‑based cross‑sectional survey was conducted 
among Iranian dental students and dentists (general practitioners and specialists). All Iranian dentists 
and dental students living in the Islamic Republic of Iran regardless of their city and workplace were 
invited to participate in the study. The total number of dentists in Iran was estimated to be 54,927. The 
sample size was calculated 380. The questionnaires used in this study were adapted from previously 
published studies based on the authors’ permission. The questionnaire consisted of four sections 
that sought to collect information on the respondents’ vaccination acceptance, knowledge, preventive 
practice, fear, and obsession toward COVID‑19. The relationship between the study variables was 
assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and also multiple linear regression tests.
RESULTS: Overall, 394 dentists were filled the questionnaire (65 dental students, 151 general 
dentists and 178 specialists). There were no differences in terms of vaccination acceptance, 
knowledge and also fear score in different designation groups. Dentists had significantly higher 
obsession and also preventive practice scores than other designation groups (P < 0.05). The majority 
of respondents had good knowledge (more than 9), acceptable preventive practice (more than 19), 
low fear‑obsession (<2.7), and high acceptance of COVID‑19 vaccination (more than 8.8).
CONCLUSIONS: Although obsession and fear scores were low in all designation groups, dentists 
had higher obsession and also preventive practice scores than other designation groups. More than 
half of respondents preferred imported COVID‑19 vaccines. Finally, organizations such as the World 
Health Organization and the Ministry of Public Health in Iran should increase vaccine convenience 
and accessibility in terms of vaccine importing, distribution, supply, and immunization service.

Keywords

Coronavirus disease‑19
dentist
fear
health
knowledge
prevention
vaccination
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 4
April 2022
Pages 1-9

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