Dentists’ Awareness, Perception, and Attitude Regarding COVID-19 and Infection Control: Cross-Sectional Study Among Jordanian Dentists

Abstract

Background Despite the availability of prevention guidelines and recommendations on infection control, many dental practices lack the minimum requirements for infection control. Objective This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, perception, and attitude regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and infection control among Jordanian dentists. Methods The study population consisted of dentists who worked in private clinics, hospitals, and health centers in Jordan. An online questionnaire was sent to a sample of Jordanian dentists in March 2020. The questionnaire was comprised of a series of questions about dentists’ demographic characteristics; their awareness of the incubation period, the symptoms of the disease, mode of transmission of COVID-19 and infection control measures for preventing COVID-19; and their attitude toward treating patients with COVID-19. Results This study included a total of 368 dentists aged 22-73 years (mean 32.9 years, SD 10.6 years). A total of 112 (30.4%) dentists had completed a master or residency program in dentistry, 195 (53.0%) had received training in infection control in dentistry, and 28 (7.6%) had attended training or lectures regarding COVID-19. A total of 133 (36.1%) dentists reported that the incubation period is 1-14 days. The majority of dentists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms and ways of identifying patients at risk of having COVID-19, were able to correctly report known modes of transmission, and were aware of measures for preventing COVID-19 transmission in dental clinics. A total of 275 (74.7%) believed that it was necessary to ask patients to sit far from each other, wear masks while in the waiting room, and wash hands before getting in the dental chair to decrease disease transmission. Conclusions Jordanian dentists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms, mode of transmission, and infection controls and measures in dental clinics. However, dentists had limited comprehension of the extra precautionary measures that protect the dental staff and other patients from COVID-19. National and international guidelines should be sent by the regional and national dental associations to all registered dentists during a crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to make sure that dentists are well informed and aware of best practices and recommended disease management approaches.

Dental Faculty’s Knowledge and Attitude regarding COVID-19 disease in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

“…Most of the participants exhibited su cient knowledge about questions related to mode of disease transmission, urgent dental care procedures, signi cance of PPE while examination, use of high volume suction and WHO guidelines regarding hand hygiene. These outcomes are in accordance with the results reported by Khader et al in their study on the Jordanian dentists [18]. Moreover, the ndings are consistent with outcomes of other studies in which Health care workers showed positive attitude and adequate implementation of personal protective equipment and hand disinfection protocol whiling dealing with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV [19,20,21].…”

“…The anxiety of our faculty regarding cross infectivity are contradictory to results of recent study, where most of the dentists (71.7%) perceived COVID-19 as moderately dangerous disease and almost one third believed that COVID-19 is not a serious public health issue. Although same study concluded that dentists should evaluate patients through measurement of the body temperature as a routine procedure and should be asked about any history of recent contact or travel [18], and these results are in accordance with our study. These ndings are also in harmony with another study in which health care workers displayed positive attitude in using personal protective gear and were adamant that goggles and gloves should be worn when dealing with healthcare related nosocomial infections [32].…”

A Crisis within a Crisis: COVID-19 Knowledge and Awareness among the Syrian Population—A National Survey Assessment

“…(17) Low awareness of the 2 to 14 day incubation period was found, (21) among dentists (36.1%), and health care workers (HCW) (36.4%). (13,19) Our study showed a higher level of awareness 2535(70.7%) among the population. Syria has a relatively young population; 2018 showed that only 4.5% of the population was over 65.…”

“…The authors designed questions that were modelled after existing surveys. (12,13) We conducted a pilot study on 20 people to assess clarity, relevance, and the acceptability of the survey; these were excluded from the nal sample to avoid bias. Modi cations were made based on feedback received to facilitate better comprehension before distributing the nal survey to the general population.…”

“…(6,11) While some studies have been conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices among populations during this pandemic, none have done so in Syria. (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) To our knowledge this rst study that aims to measure the awareness and general knowledge of COVID-19 among the Syrian population at a time where ambiguity and misinformation are rampant. The objective of this study is to gauge speci c knowledge around clinical features, transmission pathways, and prevention methods, and to identify factors associated with poor knowledge to help facilitate outbreak management in Syria during this rapid global rise of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”