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Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey

Year 2023, Volume: 13 Issue: 4, 848 - 854, 29.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected the entire world. This study aims to evaluate Turkish dentists’ awareness of and protective measures against COVID-19 infection.
Methods: A web-based questionnaire consisting of 35 closed-ended and multiple-choice questions was prepared according to Turkish Dental Association guidelines. The questionnaire was divided into three domains: demographic data, precautionary measures, and attitude. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Istanbul University institutional review board. questionnaire was sent to the dentists registered with the Turkish Dental Association. The minimum sample size was calculated as 756 individuals. The Chi-Square test was used to evaluate the difference for categorical variables. Statistical significance was accepted as p< .05.
Results: A total of nine hundred and ninety-seven questionnaires was analyzed. Five hundred and sixty-three respondents (56.5%) were general dentists, and 434 (43.5%) were specialists. Seven hundred and thirty-five (73.7%) dentists were found to wear disposable gowns, N95/FFP2 masks, and face shields. About half (48.1%) were confident of avoiding infection. Twenty-one (2.1%) subjects were SARS-Cov-2 positive. A majority of both dentists who had COVID-19 (71.4%) and dentists who did not have it (92.7%) agreed that COVID-19 is an occupational risk (p< .001).
Conclusion: Although nearly two-thirds of the respondents reported using personal protective equipment, greater precautionary measures should be taken by dental staff to protect the patients from COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.

References

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  • Rodrigues C, Plotkin SA. Impact of vaccines; health, economic and social perspectives. Front Microbiol. 2020;11:1526. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01526
  • Banakar M, Bagheri Lankarani K, Jafarpour D, Moayedi S, Banakar MH, MohammadSadeghi A. COVID-19 transmission risk and protective protocols in dentistry: A systematic review. BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):1-12. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-020-01270-9
  • Türk Dişhekimleri Birliği Bilim Kurulu. Covid-19 salgını döneminde dişhekimliğinde acil durum ve acil servis ihtiyacı için durum yönetimi rehberi. Published [April 2020]. Accessed [19 April 2020] http://www.tdb.org.tr/tdb/v2/ekler/Mevzuat/genelgeler_2020.pdf (Turkish)
  • T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı. Covid-19 pandemisininde sağlık çalışma rehberi ve enfeksiyon kontrol önlemleri COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 enfeksiyonu rehberi). Published [March 2021]. Accessed [9 March 2021] https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/TR-66532/saglik-kurumlarinda-calisma-rehberi-ve-enfeksiyon-kontrol-onlemleri.html (Turkish)
  • World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a living guideline updated chapter: mask use, part 1: Health care settings. Published [April 2022]. Accessed [6 February 2023] https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/353565
  • Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. Personal protective equipment. Published [March 2020]. Accessed [6 February 2023] https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faqs/personal-protective-equipment.html
  • Czajkowska S, Potempa N, Rupa-Matysek J, Surdacka A. Preventing the suspension of dental clinics by minimizing the risk of SARS‑CoV‑2 transmission during dental treatment. Dent Med Probl. 2021;58(3):397-403. DOI: 10.17219/dmp/133442
  • Aladelusi TO, Atiba FA, Gbadebo SO, Adeyemo YI, Olusanya AA, Akadiri OA. COVID-19 outbreak and dental health care provision in Nigeria–a national survey. BMC Oral Health 2021;21(1):1-11. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01860-1
  • Shariff S, Benten MM, Al-Zabidi MKA, Alshehri GM, Almehmadi AA, Alhazmi ST, AlDara EW. Knowledge and attitude towards dental clinical practice related to COVID-19 pandemic among dental interns in Saudi Arabia. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2021;13(5):831. DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_827_20
  • Qabool H, Sukhia RH, Fida M. Knowledge and awareness of dental specialists, general dentists and dental assistants regarding SARS‑CoV‑2. Dent Med Probl. 2021;58(3):1-6. DOI: 10.17219/dmp/134964
  • Banerjee P, Pandey SK, Munde BS, Nagargoje GD, Mohani S, Shinde MA. Assessment of knowledge and awareness among dentists about COVID-19 infection: A qualitative study. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2021;13(5):162-166. DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_626_20
  • Dean AG, Sullivan KM, Soe MM. OpenEpi: Open source epidemiologic statistics for public health. Accessed [1 July 2020] www.OpenEpi.com
  • Cagetti MG, Cairoli JL, Senna A, Campus G. COVID-19 outbreak in North Italy: An overview on dentistry. A questionnaire survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(11):3835-3846. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113835
  • Ahmed MA, Jouhar R, Ahmed N, Adnan S, Aftab M, Zafar MS, Khurshid Z. Fear and practice modifications among dentists to combat novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(8):2821-2831. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082821
  • Eysenbach G. Improving the quality of web surveys: The checklist for reporting results of internet e-surveys (CHERRIES). J Med Internet Res. 2004;6(3):e34. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.6.3.e34
  • Johnston R, Jones K, Manley D. Confounding and collinearity in regression analysis: a cautionary tale and an alternative procedure, illustrated by studies of British voting behaviour. Qual Quant. 2018;52(4):1957-1976. DOI: 10.1007/s11135-017-0584-6
  • Menhadji P, Patel R, Asimakopoulou K, Quinn B, Khoshkhounejad G, Pasha P, Nibali L. Patients’ and dentists’ perceptions of tele-dentistry at the time of COVID-19. A questionnaire-based study. J Dent. 2021;113:103782. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103782
  • Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci. 2020;12(1):1-6. DOI: 10.1038/s41368-020-0075-9
  • Hleyhel M, Haddad C, Haidar N, Charbachy M, Saleh N. Determinants of knowledge and prevention measures towards COVID-19 pandemic among Lebanese dentists: A cross sectional survey. BMC Oral Health 2021;21(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01599-9
  • Chartier Y, Pessoa-Silva C. Natural ventilation for infection control in health-care settings. Published [2009]. Accessed [19 March 2021] https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44167
  • Tysiąc-Miśta M, Dubiel A, Brzoza K, Burek M, Pałkiewicz K. Air disinfection procedures in the dental office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Med Pr. 2021;72(1):39-48. DOI: 10.13075/mp.5893.01005
  • Al-Amad SH, Awad MA, Edher FM, Shahramian K, Omran TA. The effect of rubber dam on atmospheric bacterial aerosols during restorative dentistry. J Infect Public Health. 2017;10(2):195-200. DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2016.04.014
  • World Health Organization. Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (‎‎‎Covid-19)‎‎‎: interim guidance. Published [March 2020]. Accessed [9 March 2021] https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/rational-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-for-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-and-considerations-during-severe-shortages
  • Kamran R, Saba K, Azam S. Impact of COVID-19 on Pakistani dentists: A nationwide cross sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2021;21(1):1-7. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01413-6
  • Moraes RR, Correa MB, Queiroz AB, Daneris Â, Lopes JP, Pereira-Cenci T, D’Avila OP, Cenci MS, Lima GS, Demarco FF. COVID-19 challenges to dentistry in the new pandemic epicenter: Brazil. PLoS One 2020;15(11):e0242251. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242251
  • Duruk G, Gümüşboğa ZŞ, Çolak C. Investigation of Turkish dentists’ clinical attitudes and behaviors towards the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey study. Braz Oral Res. 2020;34:e054. DOI: 10.1590/1807-3107bor-2020.vol34.0054
  • Vergara-Buenaventura A, Castro-Ruiz C. Use of mouthwashes against COVID-19 in dentistry. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020;58(8):924-927. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.08.016
  • Ge ZY, Yang LM, Xia JJ, Fu XH, Zhang YZ. Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2020;21(5):361-368. DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B2010010
  • Coulthard P, Thomson P, Dave M, Coulthard FP, Seoudi N, Hill M. The COVID-19 pandemic and dentistry: the clinical, legal and economic consequences-part 2: Consequences of withholding dental care. Br Dent J. 2020;229(12):801-805. DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-2406-9
  • Wolf TG, Zeyer O, Campus G. COVID-19 in Switzerland and Liechtenstein: A cross-sectional survey among dentists’ awareness, protective measures and economic effects. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(23):9051. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17239051
  • Cheng FC, Wang LH, Chang JYF, Lin TC, Liu TH, Tsai PF, Chang YT, Chiang CP. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dentist manpower in Taiwan. J Dent Sci. 2021;16(4):1204-1213. DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2021.03.001
  • Mutluay M, Egil E. Effect of work environment and specialty degree of dentists on cross-infection control in COVID-19 pandemic. Braz J Infect Dis. 2021;25(4):101592. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2021.101592
Year 2023, Volume: 13 Issue: 4, 848 - 854, 29.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447

Abstract

References

  • Cheng VC, Wong S-C, Chuang VW, So SY, Chen JH, Sridhar S, To KK, Chan JF, Hung IF, Ho PL, Yuen KY. Absence of nosocomial transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 in the prepandemic phase in Hong Kong. Am J Infect Control. 2020;48(8):890-896. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.018
  • Rodrigues C, Plotkin SA. Impact of vaccines; health, economic and social perspectives. Front Microbiol. 2020;11:1526. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01526
  • Banakar M, Bagheri Lankarani K, Jafarpour D, Moayedi S, Banakar MH, MohammadSadeghi A. COVID-19 transmission risk and protective protocols in dentistry: A systematic review. BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):1-12. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-020-01270-9
  • Türk Dişhekimleri Birliği Bilim Kurulu. Covid-19 salgını döneminde dişhekimliğinde acil durum ve acil servis ihtiyacı için durum yönetimi rehberi. Published [April 2020]. Accessed [19 April 2020] http://www.tdb.org.tr/tdb/v2/ekler/Mevzuat/genelgeler_2020.pdf (Turkish)
  • T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı. Covid-19 pandemisininde sağlık çalışma rehberi ve enfeksiyon kontrol önlemleri COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 enfeksiyonu rehberi). Published [March 2021]. Accessed [9 March 2021] https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/TR-66532/saglik-kurumlarinda-calisma-rehberi-ve-enfeksiyon-kontrol-onlemleri.html (Turkish)
  • World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a living guideline updated chapter: mask use, part 1: Health care settings. Published [April 2022]. Accessed [6 February 2023] https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/353565
  • Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. Personal protective equipment. Published [March 2020]. Accessed [6 February 2023] https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faqs/personal-protective-equipment.html
  • Czajkowska S, Potempa N, Rupa-Matysek J, Surdacka A. Preventing the suspension of dental clinics by minimizing the risk of SARS‑CoV‑2 transmission during dental treatment. Dent Med Probl. 2021;58(3):397-403. DOI: 10.17219/dmp/133442
  • Aladelusi TO, Atiba FA, Gbadebo SO, Adeyemo YI, Olusanya AA, Akadiri OA. COVID-19 outbreak and dental health care provision in Nigeria–a national survey. BMC Oral Health 2021;21(1):1-11. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01860-1
  • Shariff S, Benten MM, Al-Zabidi MKA, Alshehri GM, Almehmadi AA, Alhazmi ST, AlDara EW. Knowledge and attitude towards dental clinical practice related to COVID-19 pandemic among dental interns in Saudi Arabia. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2021;13(5):831. DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_827_20
  • Qabool H, Sukhia RH, Fida M. Knowledge and awareness of dental specialists, general dentists and dental assistants regarding SARS‑CoV‑2. Dent Med Probl. 2021;58(3):1-6. DOI: 10.17219/dmp/134964
  • Banerjee P, Pandey SK, Munde BS, Nagargoje GD, Mohani S, Shinde MA. Assessment of knowledge and awareness among dentists about COVID-19 infection: A qualitative study. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2021;13(5):162-166. DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_626_20
  • Dean AG, Sullivan KM, Soe MM. OpenEpi: Open source epidemiologic statistics for public health. Accessed [1 July 2020] www.OpenEpi.com
  • Cagetti MG, Cairoli JL, Senna A, Campus G. COVID-19 outbreak in North Italy: An overview on dentistry. A questionnaire survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(11):3835-3846. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113835
  • Ahmed MA, Jouhar R, Ahmed N, Adnan S, Aftab M, Zafar MS, Khurshid Z. Fear and practice modifications among dentists to combat novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(8):2821-2831. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082821
  • Eysenbach G. Improving the quality of web surveys: The checklist for reporting results of internet e-surveys (CHERRIES). J Med Internet Res. 2004;6(3):e34. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.6.3.e34
  • Johnston R, Jones K, Manley D. Confounding and collinearity in regression analysis: a cautionary tale and an alternative procedure, illustrated by studies of British voting behaviour. Qual Quant. 2018;52(4):1957-1976. DOI: 10.1007/s11135-017-0584-6
  • Menhadji P, Patel R, Asimakopoulou K, Quinn B, Khoshkhounejad G, Pasha P, Nibali L. Patients’ and dentists’ perceptions of tele-dentistry at the time of COVID-19. A questionnaire-based study. J Dent. 2021;113:103782. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103782
  • Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci. 2020;12(1):1-6. DOI: 10.1038/s41368-020-0075-9
  • Hleyhel M, Haddad C, Haidar N, Charbachy M, Saleh N. Determinants of knowledge and prevention measures towards COVID-19 pandemic among Lebanese dentists: A cross sectional survey. BMC Oral Health 2021;21(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01599-9
  • Chartier Y, Pessoa-Silva C. Natural ventilation for infection control in health-care settings. Published [2009]. Accessed [19 March 2021] https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44167
  • Tysiąc-Miśta M, Dubiel A, Brzoza K, Burek M, Pałkiewicz K. Air disinfection procedures in the dental office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Med Pr. 2021;72(1):39-48. DOI: 10.13075/mp.5893.01005
  • Al-Amad SH, Awad MA, Edher FM, Shahramian K, Omran TA. The effect of rubber dam on atmospheric bacterial aerosols during restorative dentistry. J Infect Public Health. 2017;10(2):195-200. DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2016.04.014
  • World Health Organization. Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (‎‎‎Covid-19)‎‎‎: interim guidance. Published [March 2020]. Accessed [9 March 2021] https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/rational-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-for-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-and-considerations-during-severe-shortages
  • Kamran R, Saba K, Azam S. Impact of COVID-19 on Pakistani dentists: A nationwide cross sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2021;21(1):1-7. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01413-6
  • Moraes RR, Correa MB, Queiroz AB, Daneris Â, Lopes JP, Pereira-Cenci T, D’Avila OP, Cenci MS, Lima GS, Demarco FF. COVID-19 challenges to dentistry in the new pandemic epicenter: Brazil. PLoS One 2020;15(11):e0242251. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242251
  • Duruk G, Gümüşboğa ZŞ, Çolak C. Investigation of Turkish dentists’ clinical attitudes and behaviors towards the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey study. Braz Oral Res. 2020;34:e054. DOI: 10.1590/1807-3107bor-2020.vol34.0054
  • Vergara-Buenaventura A, Castro-Ruiz C. Use of mouthwashes against COVID-19 in dentistry. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020;58(8):924-927. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.08.016
  • Ge ZY, Yang LM, Xia JJ, Fu XH, Zhang YZ. Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2020;21(5):361-368. DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B2010010
  • Coulthard P, Thomson P, Dave M, Coulthard FP, Seoudi N, Hill M. The COVID-19 pandemic and dentistry: the clinical, legal and economic consequences-part 2: Consequences of withholding dental care. Br Dent J. 2020;229(12):801-805. DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-2406-9
  • Wolf TG, Zeyer O, Campus G. COVID-19 in Switzerland and Liechtenstein: A cross-sectional survey among dentists’ awareness, protective measures and economic effects. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(23):9051. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17239051
  • Cheng FC, Wang LH, Chang JYF, Lin TC, Liu TH, Tsai PF, Chang YT, Chiang CP. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dentist manpower in Taiwan. J Dent Sci. 2021;16(4):1204-1213. DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2021.03.001
  • Mutluay M, Egil E. Effect of work environment and specialty degree of dentists on cross-infection control in COVID-19 pandemic. Braz J Infect Dis. 2021;25(4):101592. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2021.101592
There are 33 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Dentistry (Other)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Yelda Kasımoğlu 0000-0003-1022-2486

Sabiha Ceren İlisulu 0000-0003-3679-4001

Caner Baysan 0000-0002-7675-1391

Mine Koruyucu 0000-0002-2077-5095

Figen Seymen 0000-0001-7010-2035

Publication Date December 29, 2023
Submission Date October 29, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 13 Issue: 4

Cite

APA Kasımoğlu, Y., İlisulu, S. C., Baysan, C., Koruyucu, M., et al. (2023). Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences, 13(4), 848-854. https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447
AMA Kasımoğlu Y, İlisulu SC, Baysan C, Koruyucu M, Seymen F. Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences. December 2023;13(4):848-854. doi:10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447
Chicago Kasımoğlu, Yelda, Sabiha Ceren İlisulu, Caner Baysan, Mine Koruyucu, and Figen Seymen. “Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 Among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey”. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences 13, no. 4 (December 2023): 848-54. https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447.
EndNote Kasımoğlu Y, İlisulu SC, Baysan C, Koruyucu M, Seymen F (December 1, 2023) Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences 13 4 848–854.
IEEE Y. Kasımoğlu, S. C. İlisulu, C. Baysan, M. Koruyucu, and F. Seymen, “Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey”, Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 848–854, 2023, doi: 10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447.
ISNAD Kasımoğlu, Yelda et al. “Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 Among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey”. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences 13/4 (December 2023), 848-854. https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447.
JAMA Kasımoğlu Y, İlisulu SC, Baysan C, Koruyucu M, Seymen F. Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences. 2023;13:848–854.
MLA Kasımoğlu, Yelda et al. “Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 Among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey”. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences, vol. 13, no. 4, 2023, pp. 848-54, doi:10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1195447.
Vancouver Kasımoğlu Y, İlisulu SC, Baysan C, Koruyucu M, Seymen F. Awareness of the Protective Measures Against Covid-19 among Turkish Dentists: A Questionnaire Survey. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences. 2023;13(4):848-54.

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