Pandemic preparedness of dentists against coronavirus disease: A Saudi Arabian experience

Khalifa S Al-Khalifa, Rasha AlSheikh, Abdullah S Al-Swuailem, Muneera S Alkhalifa, Mahmoud H Al-Johani, Saud A Al-Moumen and Zainab I Almomen

PLOS ONE, 2020, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Dental offices are among the highest risk for transmission of the COVID-19, having the potential to transmit the virus via routine dental procedures. This cross-sectional study assessed the preparedness and perception of infection control measures against the COVID-19 pandemic by dentists in Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: This online survey addressed the impact and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental practice in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire comprised 26 closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics included frequency distributions with percentages. In addition, the significance between the different demographic variables and questions about dentists’ perception of the COVID-19 pandemic was tested using the Chi-square test. Results: COVID-19 management in dental clinics varied in terms of adherence to the Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines. Dental clinics’ screening questionnaire for patients showed good adherence (67%), while the lowest agreement was detected with the question on the existence of an airborne infection in the isolation room (15%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents agreed that the dental reception area adopted the proper COVID-19 preventive measures. Greatest accord was observed in their answers on questions about dentists’ perception of the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from 64%–89%. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in questions about the perception of dentists towards the COVID-19 pandemic by different demographic variables such as age and years of work experience (p

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0237630

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237630

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