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

• Main Authors: Ruba M. Mustafa, Ruwaida Z. Alshali, Dalea M. Bukhary
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: coronavirus; dentists; surveys and questionnaires; Saudi Arabia; pandemics
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/9016
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

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.