Dentists’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Awareness of Infection Control Measures during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Ruba M. Mustafa, Ruwaida Z. Alshali and Dalea M. Bukhary
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Ruba M. Mustafa: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
Ruwaida Z. Alshali: Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Department, Faculty of dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Dalea M. Bukhary: Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Department, Faculty of dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: As antiviral vaccines are still pending for the COVID-19 disease, improving dentists’ knowledge and prevention measures is important. This study aimed to assess dentists’ knowledge, attitude, and perception of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia during the early outbreak period. In addition, infection control measures for dental setting were also assessed. Online questionnaire was distributed to dentists in different regions of Saudi Arabia when COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia was at its beginning. The questionnaire was assessing demographic variables, knowledge, attitude, risk perception, and preparedness towards COVID-19. Questions regarding infection control measures were also included. The correct incubation period of the virus was recognized by 43% of participants. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath were the mostly recognized symptoms for COVID-19 (98.9%, 95.5%, and 93.3% respectively). Participants in age groups ≥60, 50–59, and 20–29 years old were more likely to perceive COVID-19 as a very dangerous disease compared to 30–39 and 40–49 age groups. Dentists in Saudi Arabia showed satisfactory knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19. Improving dentists’ level of knowledge could be achieved through increasing their accessibility to materials provided by dental health care authorities, which specifies the best and safest approaches for dealing with patients during and after the outbreak.

Keywords: coronavirus; dentists; surveys and questionnaires; Saudi Arabia; pandemics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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