Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Aug 2020)
Evaluation of Knowledge and Preparedness Among Indian Dentists During the Current COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Suraj Arora,1 Shahabe Abullais Saquib,2 Nilofar Attar,3 Sandeep Pimpale,4 Khwaja Saifullah Zafar,5 Priyanka Saluja,6 Anshad M Abdulla,7 Shaheen Shamsuddin8 1Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia; 2Periodontics and Community Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Research Center for Advanced Materials Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; 4Department of Periodontics, Nair Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; 5Department of Basic Medical Sciences (Emergency Medical Service), College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, JCD Dental College Vidyapeeth, Sirsa, Haryana 125055, India; 7Department of Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 8Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Priyanka SalujaDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, JCD Dental College Vidyapeeth, Sirsa 125055, Haryana, IndiaTel +91 9463872774Email [email protected]: The current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced dentists to prepare themselves by updating their knowledge and receive training to face the present and after effects of COVID-19. The present survey was thus conducted to assess the knowledge, risk perception, attitude, and preparedness of the dentists in India about COVID-19.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was carried out among registered dentists in India. A self-administered, anonymous, questionnaire comprising of 25 close-ended questions was circulated to gather the relevant information. A total of 765 dentists submitted a response, out of which 646 complete responses were included in the statistical analysis. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used for inter-group statistical comparison.Results: The majority (80.8%) of the dentists had a fair knowledge about the characteristics of COVID-19. Nearly 60.7% and 49.7% of the dentists had taken infection control training and special training for COVID-19, respectively. Nearly 50% of the dentists had the perception that COVID-19 is very dangerous. Only 41.8% of the dentists were willing to provide emergency services to patients. Most of the dentists had an opinion that there is a need to enhance personal protective measures. During the survey, it was found that varied technological advances are offered to dentists to ensure good clinical practice. They also concurred that there was a need to standardize the tools and measures available to carry out dental practices.Conclusion: In the present study, Indian dentists have presented satisfactory knowledge with adequate preparedness as the majority of them had a fair level of knowledge with significantly higher knowledge among female respondents and those with post-graduation studies. Dentists should make judicious utilization of all the precautionary measures to safely practice dentistry. As we are going through an evolutionary phase where new advances are expected to evolve, dentists will definitely emerge successfully out from the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords: corona virus, healthcare workers, dentistry, Asian, awareness
