Australian dentists’ knowledge, preparedness, and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background COVID-19 is a global health crisis. Close contact with the mucous membranes and respiratory secretions of patients and aerosol-generating procedures renders dentists and other oral health professionals at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. We examined dentists’ knowledge, preparedness, and experiences of managing COVID-19 in Australia. Methods A cross-sectional online survey of dentists with a current membership with The Australian Dental Association (ADA) was conducted between March and April 2021. Results Of the 368 survey responses, most dentists (72.3%) reported having a good level of knowledge about COVID-19, with most visiting the ADA Federal COVID-19 (74.7%) and state/territory department of health websites (62.8%), respectively to source up-to-date information. Most dentists (87.6%) felt prepared to manage COVID-19 into the future, although 66% reported not receiving training or certification in the use of PPE. Over half (58.7%) reported not being concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2 at work, with some (28.9%, n=98/339) feeling more stressed than usual and having heavier workloads. Conclusions COVID-19 had significant impact in oral healthcare in Australia. Dentistry has adapted to the varied challenges raised by the pandemic. Comprehensive training and detailed guidelines were fundamental for successful patient management during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Examining the Experiences of US Dentists during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Policy and Practice

“…This study also describes US dentists' concerns for how COVID-19 may exacerbate oral health disparities in low socioeconomic groups and among older adults with comorbidities. In addition, this study's qualitative findings contribute valuable narratives to the previous survey studies of dentists' experiences during COVID-19 around the world, articulating topics including anxiety, provider preparedness, and increased stress among practitioners [9][10][11][12].…”

Knowledge of COVID-19 Infection Guidelines among the Dental Health Care Professionals of Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

“…Similarly, social media influencers can be hired to inform and influence the DHCPs, especially the students and interns. In addition, video resources that provide comprehensive information on the infection control procedures and sequences could be developed, similar to those developed by the Australian dental association, to demonstrate the donning and doffing sequences of the PPE [ 37 ].…”

Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) among Pediatric Dentists during Lockdown Period

“…An Australian study [ 35 ], a Polish study [ 36 ], and a German study [ 37 ] also evaluated knowledge scores among dentists. All the studies found sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19.…”

“…Wolf et al [ 37 ] survey reported that COVID-19 changed the dental practice drastically. Subsequently, an Australian study reported that [ 35 ] holistic training is mandatory for successfully managing patients in the dental operatory during the COVID-19 outbreak. It has also been reported that many changes were evident in the dental operator, and it is also time to adopt the new strategies and inflectional protocols in the dental operatory [ 41 , 42 ].…”