Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
J Infect Public Health. 2020 Jun;13(6):856-864. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.05.010. Epub 2020 May 29.
Dental health care workers (DHCW's) are invariably at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The objectives were; to investigate the current knowledge on COVID-19 among the DHCW's; and to conduct quasi-experiment among the DHCW's who were unaware of the disseminated COVID-19 information.
A nationwide cross-sectional study targeting dental interns, auxiliaries, and specialists with a two-staged cluster sampling technique was performed. A 17-item questionnaire was subjected to reliability and validity tests before being administered. The participants for quasi-experiment were separated from the original sample after their initial response. Chi-square test assessed responses to knowledge statements between the participants. Difference in mean knowledge scores between the categories of DHCW's and sources of COVID-19 information was assessed using ANOVA. Data from the quasi experiment (pre vs post knowledge intervention) was subjected to paired t-test. Percentage of DHCWs providing correct or wrong responses to each knowledge statement at baseline and after 7 days were compared using McNemar test.
The overall sample consisted of 706 (N) participants, and the DHCW's with no prior knowledge on COVID-19 (N=206) were part of the quasi experiment. Findings from cross-sectional study revealed that knowledge was significantly (p<0.05) related to the qualification level (interns vs auxiliaries vs specialists). However, the difference in the source of information (WHO/CDC vs Journal articles vs MoH) did not demonstrate any effect. Number of participants with correct responses to knowledge questions had significantly (p<0.05) increased after intervention. Also, the overall mean knowledge score (10.74±2.32 vs 12.47±1.68; p<0.001) had increased significantly after the intervention.
In conclusion, the basic knowledge on COVID-19 among the DHCW's in Saudi Arabia is acceptable. Timely dissemination of information by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia had a positive impact on the COVID-19 knowledge score of the DHCW's.
牙科医护人员（DHCW）感染 COVID-19 的风险始终较高。目的是；调查 DHCW 对 COVID-19 的认知现状；并对不了解 COVID-19 信息传播的 DHCW 进行准实验。
采用两阶段整群抽样技术，对牙科实习生、助理和专家进行全国性横断面研究。在进行调查之前，对包含 17 个条目的问卷进行了信度和效度测试。在最初的反应后，将准实验的参与者从原始样本中分离出来。卡方检验评估了参与者对知识陈述的反应。使用方差分析评估 DHCW 类别和 COVID-19 信息来源之间的知识得分差异。准实验（知识干预前后）的数据采用配对 t 检验。使用 McNemar 检验比较基线和 7 天后 DHCW 对每个知识陈述的正确或错误反应的百分比。
总体样本由 706 名（N）参与者组成，206 名（N）对 COVID-19 没有先验知识的 DHCW 参与了准实验。横断面研究结果表明，知识与资格水平（实习生与助理与专家）显著相关（p<0.05）。然而，信息来源（世界卫生组织/疾病预防控制中心与杂志文章与卫生部）的差异没有显示出任何影响。干预后，正确回答知识问题的参与者人数显著增加（p<0.05）。此外，干预后总体知识得分（10.74±2.32 与 12.47±1.68；p<0.001）显著增加。
总之，沙特阿拉伯 DHCW 对 COVID-19 的基本知识是可以接受的。沙特阿拉伯卫生部及时传播信息对 DHCW 的 COVID-19 知识得分产生了积极影响。
