Assessment of dentists’ awareness and knowledge levels on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

SEZGIN, Güzide Pelin; ŞIRINOĞLU ÇAPAN, Belen

doi:10.1590/1807-3107bor-2020.vol34.0112

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Original research, Community Dental Health • Braz. oral. res. 34 • 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-3107bor-2020.vol34.0112 copy

Assessment of dentists’ awareness and knowledge levels on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is the most recent infectious disease that is spreading rapidly throughout the world. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness levels of dentists on COVID-19. This survey study, consisting of 37 questions, was sent to dentists via an online link in the first two weeks of April 2020. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to the knowledge level of dentists on COVID-19 during the pandemic period. The knowledge level of dentists was assessed with a 24-point scoring, consisting of correct answers. A Chi-square test was used to compare qualitative data (p < 0.05). A total of 267 dentists participated in this study, of which 51.7% were aged under 30 years, and 67% were women. The participants’ knowledge level means score was 19.03 ± 3.15. According to these results, 231 were determined (86.5%) as high knowledgeable. Positive associations between increased knowledge level and factors such as being a woman, working in a university hospital, and being informed outside the institution were determined. The knowledge level of the dentists working in Istanbul about the COVID-19 pandemic is quite high.

Awareness; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Dentistry; Knowledge

Scoring item	Answer	Score
The incubation period of Covid-19 is (2–14) days.	Yes	1
The symptoms of Covid-19 have been reported as fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing.	Yes	1
Hand hygiene has the utmost importance in the transmission of COVID-19 disease.	Yes	1
Do you think that routine dental procedures should be continued if necessary precautions are taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as protective equipment, isolated areas, and adequate ventilation?	No	1
I do not perform dental treatment if the patient has a fever equal to or greater than 37.5°C.	Yes	1
Would you perform dental procedures which do not create aerosol (not requiring aerator use) during the COVID-19 pandemic?	No	1
Would you extract an asymptomatic tooth?	No	1
While performing dental procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, if there is no N95 / FFP3 mask, is it sufficient to wear a 2-fold standard mask?	No	1
Do you think that standard dental suction is appropriate procedure to be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic?	No	1
Should the patient gargle before the dental procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic?	Yes	1
Do you think that emergency dental procedures should be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic?	Yes	1
I perform an emergency intervention in acute pulpitis and treat the patient in a single session.	No	1
I perform only the extirpation and complete the treatment during a second session within the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in acute pulpitis.	No	1
I perform only the extirpation and complete the treatment during a second session after the pandemic.	Yes	1
I perform emergency treatment when extraoral swelling and localized pain are present.	Yes	1
When extraoral swelling and localized pain are present, I prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs only, and postpone the treatment to an appointment after the pandemic.	No	1
I perform treatment in cases with complicated trauma.	Yes	1
I intervene in patients with uncontrolled bleeding following tooth extraction.	Yes	1
I perform treatment in cases with osteitis, alveolitis, pericoronitis, and third molar pain.	Yes	1
I perform treatment in cases such as acute and painful lesions of the oral mucosa and periodontal abscess.	Yes	1
I intervene emergently in patients who are receiving or who are planned to receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy or in patients with organ transplants.	Yes	1
I perform final crown/bridge cementation if the temporary restoration is lost, broken, or causing gingival irritation.	Yes	1
I remove stitches.	Yes	1
I perform treatment if there is pain in cases undergoing orthodontic treatment in whom the brackets and wires are dislocated or broken.	Yes	1
Total		24

Variable	n	%
Age
< 30	138	51,7
> 30	129	48,3
Gender
Male	88	33
Female	179	67
Years of practice
Less than 5 years	117	43,8
5–9 years	73	27,3
10 years and over	77	28,8
Speciality
Yes	95	35,6
No	172	64,4
Institution
Nonworker	47	17,6
State hospital/Oral and dental health center	39	14,6
Private hospital/Clinic	87	32,6
University hospital	94	35,2

Variable	n	%
Obtaining information on COVID-19 in their institution
Yes	155	58,1
No	112	41,9
Obtaining information on COVID-19 from outside their institution
Yes	219	82
No	48	18
External source of information (n = 219)
Ministry of Health	176	80,4
TDA	168	76,7
WHO	130	59,4
International articles	71	32,4
National articles	38	17,4
Internet/YouTube	146	66,7
Transmission routes of COVID-19
Droplets	265	99,3
Saliva	243	91
Contact with objects or surfaces	234	87,6
Contact with an individual	244	91,4
Blood	86	32,2
Air	130	48,7

Variable	n	%
Duration of hygienic handwashing
20 s	217	81,3
30 s	31	11,6
40 s	19	7,1
Style of hygienic handwashing
Only soap	87	32,6
Both soap and disinfectant	180	67,4
Mouthwash preference (n = 248)
Chlorhexidine	153	61,7
Povidone-iodine	107	43,1
Hydrogen peroxide	129	52
Analgesic preference (n = 255)
Paracetamol	219	85,9
İbuprofen	94	36,9
Acetyl salicylic acid	34	13,3

Variable	No		Yes
Variable	n	%	n	%
The incubation period of Covid-19 is (2–14) days.	2	0,7	265	99,3
The symptoms of Covid-19 have been reported as fever, cough, and difficulties in breathing.	1	0,4	266	99,6
Hand hygiene has the utmost importance in the transmission of COVID-19.	0	0	267	100
Do you think that routine dental procedures should be continued if necessary precautions are taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as protective equipment, isolated areas, and adequate ventilation?	230	86,1	37	13,9
I do not perform dental treatment if the patient has a fever equal to or greater than 37.5°C.	16	6	251	94
Would you perform dental procedures which do not create aerosol (not requiring aerator use) during the COVID-19 pandemic?	159	59,6	108	40,4
Would you extract an asymptomatic tooth?	143	53,6	124	46,4
While performing dental procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, if there is no N95 / FFP3 mask, is it enough to wear a 2-fold standard mask?	237	88,8	30	11,2
Do you think that standard dental suction is an appropriate procedure to be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic?	252	94,4	15	5,6
Should the patient gargle before the dental procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic?	19	7,1	248	92,9
Do you think that emergency dental procedures should be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic?	18	6,7	249	93,3
I perform an emergency intervention in acute pulpitis and treat the patient in a single session.	178	66,7	89	33,3
I perform only the extirpation and complete the treatment during a second session within the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in acute pulpitis.	164	61,4	103	38,6
I perform only the extirpation and complete the treatment in the second session after the pandemic.	54	20,2	213	79,8
I perform emergency treatment when extraoral swelling and localized pain are present.	73	27,3	194	72,7
When extraoral swelling and localized pain are present, I prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs only and postpone the treatment to an appointment after the pandemic.	90	33,7	177	66,3
I perform treatment in cases with complicated trauma.	43	16,1	224	83,9
I intervene in patients with uncontrolled bleeding following tooth extraction.	18	6,7	249	93,3
I perform treatment in cases with osteitis, alveolitis, pericoronitis, and third molar pain.	36	13,5	231	86,5
I perform treatment in cases such as acute and painful lesions of the oral mucosa and periodontal abscess.	45	16,9	222	83,1
I intervene emergently in patients who are receiving or who have been scheduled to receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy or in patients with organ transplants.	69	25,8	198	74,2
I perform final crown/bridge cementation if the temporary restoration is lost, broken, or causing gingival irritation.	111	41,6	156	58,4
I remove stitches.	53	19,9	214	80,1
I perform treatment if there is pain in cases undergoing orthodontic treatment in whom the brackets and wires are dislocated or broken.	86	32,2	181	67,8

Variable	Low knowledgeable	Moderately knowledgeable	High knowledgeable	p-value
Variable	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	p-value
Age
< 30	2 (1,4%)	15 (10,9%)	121 (87,7%)	^a0,841
> 30	2 (1,6%)	17 (13,2%)	110 (85,3%)
Gender
Male	1 (1,1%)	19 (21,6%)	68 (77,3%)	^a0,002*
Female	3 (1,7%)	13 (7,3%)	163 (91,1%)
Years of practice
Less than 5 years	2 (1,7%)	14 (12%)	101 (86,3%)	^b0,458
5–9 years	2 (2,7%)	6 (8,2%)	65 (89%)
10 years and over	0 (0%)	12 (15,6%)	65 (84,4%)
Specialty
Yes	0 (0%)	7 (7,4%)	88 (92,6%)	^a0,064
No	4 (2,3%)	25 (14,5%)	143 (83,1%)
Institution
Nonworker	3 (6,4%)	2 (4,3%)	42 (89,4%)	^c0,002*
State hospital/Oral and dental health center	0 (0%)	8 (20,5%)	31 (79,5%)
Private hospital/Clinic	0 (0%)	16 (18,4%)	71 (81,6%)
University hospital	1 (1,1%)	6 (6,4%)	87 (92,6%)
Getting information on COVID-19 in institution
Yes	2 (1,3%)	14 (9%)	139 (89,7%)	^a0,183
No	2 (1,8%)	18 (16,1%)	92 (82,1%)
Getting information on COVID-19 from outside institution
Yes	1 (0,5%)	21 (9,6%)	197 (90%)	^a0,001*
No	3 (6,3%)	11 (22,9%)	34 (70,8%)

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[1] Corresponding Author: Güzide Pelin Sezgin E-mail: psezgin@biruni.edu.tr