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<sec><h3>Background</h3><p>Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening global pandemic. The dental profession is considered a high-risk group in the transmission of the responsible virus.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Objective</h3><p>To assess the knowledge and attitude among dental professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>We conducted a cross-sectional study of dental graduates, interns, postgraduates, and dental faculty from May to July 2020. A standardized questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge and attitude of 650 participants. The questionnaire comprised 14 questions to assess general knowledge about COVID-19, 11 questions regarding knowledge about prevention of COVID-19 in dental practice, and 10 questions regarding the attitude toward preventing COVID-19.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3><p>Among the study population, only 376 (57.8%) knew the causative virus for COVID-19. Only 425 (65.3%) knew about rinsing the mouth with an antimicrobial solution or 1% hydrogen peroxide before the dental procedure. Regarding the hand hygiene guidelines, 357 (54.9%) had knowledge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 377 (58.0%) about World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. At the time of our survey, 72% of the participants showed sufficient knowledge, while 28% had low or insufficient knowledge about COVID-19.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>While there was a lack of knowledge among dental professionals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia about COVID-19, there was an excellent positive attitude toward preventing disease. Greater awareness is needed to control the spread of this disease.</p></sec>
</abstract>

BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening global pandemic. The dental profession is considered a high-risk group in the transmission of the responsible virus.
ObjectiveTo assess the knowledge and attitude among dental professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of dental graduates, interns, postgraduates, and dental faculty from May to July 2020. A standardized questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge and attitude of 650 participants. The questionnaire comprised 14 questions to assess general knowledge about COVID-19, 11 questions regarding knowledge about prevention of COVID-19 in dental practice, and 10 questions regarding the attitude toward preventing COVID-19.
ResultsAmong the study population, only 376 (57.8%) knew the causative virus for COVID-19. Only 425 (65.3%) knew about rinsing the mouth with an antimicrobial solution or 1% hydrogen peroxide before the dental procedure. Regarding the hand hygiene guidelines, 357 (54.9%) had knowledge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 377 (58.0%) about World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. At the time of our survey, 72% of the participants showed sufficient knowledge, while 28% had low or insufficient knowledge about COVID-19.
ConclusionWhile there was a lack of knowledge among dental professionals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia about COVID-19, there was an excellent positive attitude toward preventing disease. Greater awareness is needed to control the spread of this disease.

Knowledge and attitude of dental professionals toward COVID-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences

Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dental Sciences

Dental Public Health, College of Dentistry

King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs

Agmal Ebtsama Dental and Derma Clinics Center

Asian Biomedicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening global pandemic. The dental profession is considered a high-risk group in the transmission...

Knowledge and attitude of dental professionals toward COVID-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Article Category: Original article

Data publikacji: 30 gru 2021

Zakres stron: 277 - 284

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abm-2021-0034

Słowa kluczowe
COVID-19, dental, pandemics, preventive health services, SARS-CoV-2

© 2021 Darshan Devang Divakar et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Knowledge and attitude of dental professionals toward COVID-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Article Category: Original article

Data publikacji: 30 gru 2021

Zakres stron: 277 - 284

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abm-2021-0034

Słowa kluczoweCOVID-19, dental, pandemics, preventive health services, SARS-CoV-2

© 2021 Darshan Devang Divakar et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Słowa kluczowe
COVID-19, dental, pandemics, preventive health services, SARS-CoV-2