Knowledge of dental academics about the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-country online survey

Abstract

Background COVID-19 is a global pandemic affecting all aspects of life in all countries. We assessed COVID-19 knowledge and associated factors among dental academics in 26 countries. Methods We invited dental academics to participate in a cross-sectional, multi-country, online survey from March to April 2020. The survey collected data on knowledge of COVID-19 regarding the mode of transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, protection, and dental treatment precautions as well as participants’ background variables. Multilevel linear models were used to assess the association between dental academics’ knowledge of COVID-19 and individual level (personal and professional) and country-level (number of COVID-19 cases/ million population) factors accounting for random variation among countries. Results Two thousand forty-five academics participated in the survey (response rate 14.3%, with 54.7% female and 67% younger than 46 years of age). The mean (SD) knowledge percent score was 73.2 (11.2) %, and the score of knowledge of symptoms was significantly lower than the score of knowledge of diagnostic methods (53.1 and 85.4%, P < 0.0001). Knowledge score was significantly higher among those living with a partner/spouse than among those living alone (regression coefficient (B) = 0.48); higher among those with PhD degrees than among those with Bachelor of Dental Science degrees (B = 0.48); higher among those seeing 21 to 30 patients daily than among those seeing no patients (B = 0.65); and higher among those from countries with a higher number of COVID-19 cases/million population (B = 0.0007). Conclusions Dental academics had poorer knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms than of COVID-19 diagnostic methods. Living arrangements, academic degrees, patient load, and magnitude of the epidemic in the country were associated with COVD-19 knowledge among dental academics. Training of dental academics on COVID-19 can be designed using these findings to recruit those with the greatest need.

Awareness and Knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Dental Professionals According to the Turkish National Dental Guidelines

“…In the current study, it could be proclaimed that the participance rate of the dental professionals was relatively high, compared to the previous surveys [ 22 ]. This might be explained by the fact that the survey has coincided with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey and the dentists were highly motivated to participate.…”

Preparing dental schools to refunction safely during the COVID-19 pandemic: an infection prevention and control perspective

“…A survey conducted from March to April 2020 among 2,045 dental academics in 26 countries found significant gaps in knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms (knowledge score: 53.1%) [39]. Moreover, two recent surveys among dental students and faculty members in a Jordan University and a University in Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region highly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed a high rate of perception of exposure to COVID-19 during clinical training activities, especially when performing AGPs [40,41].…”

Kobra Surgery Simulator—A Possibility to Improve Digital Teaching? A Case-Control Study

“…The novel coronavirus, which was classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 [ 7 , 8 ], has changed and affected structures within the economy and politics as well as impacted the life of every individual [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. The novel situation that has arisen as a result of the coronavirus has had an impact not only on the clinical everyday life of every dentist and physician but also on the everyday teaching routines at university hospitals [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Because of the increased risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19) among dental staff due to the possible formation of aerosols during rotating work on teeth or in the patient’s mouth, the practically oriented student education using patients cannot take place as usual [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

“…The novel situation that has arisen as a result of the coronavirus has had an impact not only on the clinical everyday life of every dentist and physician but also on the everyday teaching routines at university hospitals [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Because of the increased risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19) among dental staff due to the possible formation of aerosols during rotating work on teeth or in the patient’s mouth, the practically oriented student education using patients cannot take place as usual [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The WHO has recommended measures such as triaging patients upon entering university clinics or only performing emergency treatment on patients [ 23 , 24 ].…”