Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Aug 2023)
Comparative Assessment of Oral Health Attitudes and Behaviors of First-Time and Previous Dental Patients Undergoing Exodontia Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Private Dental Clinics in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Muhanad Abdul Kareem AlHaj, Mohammad Abdul Baseer, Abdulrahman Dahham AlSaffan, Navin Anand Ingle Preventive Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammad Abdul Baseer, Preventive Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Namuthajiya Campus, PO Box No 84891, Riyadh, 11681, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: The COVID-19 lockdown affected oral health behaviors. This study aims to assess and compare the oral health attitudes and behaviors of first-time and previous patients undergoing dental extractions during the COVID-19 pandemic at private dental clinics in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients aged 18– 65 years undergoing dental extractions at private dental clinics in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Four hundred and eighty patients were selected using a convenient sampling methodology. A structured, close-ended questionnaire investigated demographic information, tooth extraction attendance, and oral health attitudes and behaviors using 20 items Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory (HUDBI).Results: A total of 480 exodontia patients [282 (58.8%) males and 198 (41.2%) females] participated in this study. All patients used a stiff-bristled toothbrush and were concerned about their teeth’ color and bad breath. Similarly, all the participants did not feel brushed unless they used strong strokes, and the dentist told them to brush very well. An overall mean HUDBI score of 6.34± 1.12 was observed. Patients with a primary education (5.61± 0.79), income ≤ 5000 SAR (6.00± 0.92), residing in rural areas (5.84± 0.93), and government employees (5.62± 0.96) exhibited lower HU-DBI scores compared to their counterparts. The study revealed a significant variation in HUDBI scores across different demographic factors, including education, income, residence, occupation, and reason for extraction (p< 0.001). The HUDBI score of first-time attendees to dental extraction (5.88± 1.03) was found to be significantly poorer than to those of previous attendees (6.63± 1.09), (p< 0.001).Conclusion: Patients who underwent dental extractions at private dental clinics in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, during the post-lockdown COVID-19 pandemic exhibited average oral health attitudes and behaviors. Oral health attitudes and behaviors differed by socioeconomic status. Patients undergoing dental extractions for reasons other than dental caries and periodontal diseases and first-time attendees demonstrated poor oral health attitudes and behaviors.Keywords: attitude, behavior, tooth extraction, oral health, private dental clinics, pandemic
