Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan.
Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Department, Faculty of dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 3;17(23):9016. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17239016.
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.
由于针对 COVID-19 疾病的抗病毒疫苗仍在研发中，提高牙医的知识和预防措施非常重要。本研究旨在评估 COVID-19 在沙特阿拉伯早期爆发期间牙医的知识、态度和对 COVID-19 的看法。此外，还评估了牙科环境的感染控制措施。当 COVID-19 在沙特阿拉伯爆发时，向沙特阿拉伯不同地区的牙医分发了在线问卷。问卷评估了人口统计学变量、知识、态度、风险认知和对 COVID-19 的准备情况。还包括有关感染控制措施的问题。43%的参与者正确识别了病毒的潜伏期。发烧、咳嗽和呼吸急促是 COVID-19 最常见的症状（分别为 98.9%、95.5%和 93.3%）。与 30-39 岁和 40-49 岁年龄组相比，60 岁及以上、50-59 岁和 20-29 岁年龄组的参与者更有可能将 COVID-19 视为非常危险的疾病。沙特阿拉伯的牙医对 COVID-19 表现出满意的知识和积极的态度。可以通过增加牙医获取由牙科保健当局提供的材料的机会来提高他们的知识水平，这些材料具体说明了在疫情爆发期间和之后处理患者的最佳和最安全方法。
