Chothia Zara, Nkambule Ntombizodwa R, Bhayat Ahmed, Morule Mpho
Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Health SA. 2024 Aug 8;29:2632. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2632. eCollection 2024.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is a recently discovered virus responsible for causing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). No study has been carried out on South African oral healthcare workers (OHCWs) regarding their knowledge and practices with regard to COVID-19 and its vaccine.
This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of South African OHCWs regarding COVID-19 and its vaccine.
This was a cross-sectional study, which utilised an online questionnaire. The link to the questionnaire was sent via email and social media platforms. There was a total of 8056 OHCWs, and a minimum sample size of 367 was required. All information was confidential and anonymous.
A total of 327 OHCWs participated with a mean age of 43 years (±12.23) and the majority (60%) being general dentists. Less than half (42%) had obtained additional postgraduate qualifications while 57% were employed in the private and 24% in the academic sectors. Almost two-thirds (60%) obtained a 'good' knowledge score. Overall, OHCWs displayed positive attitudes towards COVID-19 and the majority implemented appropriate infection control protocols at their place of work. The majority (87%) reported to be vaccinated and of those who did not vaccinate, 34% cited concerns about possible side effects as a reason for not vaccinating.
Respondents displayed gaps in their knowledge. There was a positive attitude towards the prevention of COVID-19, and almost all participants reported to have implemented the necessary infection control methods.
This study's contribution to research was to identify gaps in the knowledge and practices of OHCWs with regards to COVID 19 and its vaccine. Once these gaps have been identified, measures will be put in place to address them.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2是一种最近发现的病毒，可导致冠状病毒病19（COVID-19）。尚未针对南非口腔医护人员（OHCWs）开展关于他们对COVID-19及其疫苗的知识和做法的研究。
本研究旨在确定南非口腔医护人员对COVID-19及其疫苗的知识、态度和做法。
这是一项横断面研究，采用在线问卷。问卷链接通过电子邮件和社交媒体平台发送。共有8056名口腔医护人员，所需最小样本量为367。所有信息均保密且匿名。
共有327名口腔医护人员参与，平均年龄为43岁（±12.23），大多数（60%）为普通牙医。不到一半（42%）拥有额外的研究生学历，57%受雇于私营部门，24%受雇于学术部门。近三分之二（60%）获得了“良好”的知识得分。总体而言，口腔医护人员对COVID-19持积极态度，大多数人在工作场所实施了适当的感染控制方案。大多数（87%）报告已接种疫苗，在未接种疫苗的人中，34%表示因担心可能的副作用而未接种。
受访者在知识方面存在差距。对预防COVID-19持积极态度，几乎所有参与者都报告已实施必要的感染控制方法。
本研究对研究的贡献是确定口腔医护人员在COVID-19及其疫苗的知识和做法方面的差距。一旦确定这些差距，将采取措施加以解决。
