Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan

COVID-19 pandemic has affected dentistry in unprecedented ways. This study investigates the perceived effects of the pandemic on operative dentistry procedures and dentistry profession in Pakistan and the factors that determine the behavioral changes among dentists to adapt to the “new normal.” A Ca...

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Main Authors: Syeda Afshan Manzoor, Abdul-Hakeem Alomari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.904838/full
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author Syeda Afshan Manzoor
Abdul-Hakeem Alomari
author_facet Syeda Afshan Manzoor
Abdul-Hakeem Alomari
author_sort Syeda Afshan Manzoor
collection DOAJ
description COVID-19 pandemic has affected dentistry in unprecedented ways. This study investigates the perceived effects of the pandemic on operative dentistry procedures and dentistry profession in Pakistan and the factors that determine the behavioral changes among dentists to adapt to the “new normal.” A Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behavioral model (COM-B) was utilized to investigate the factors that determine the behavior of dentists in Punjab, Pakistan to adhere to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). Using social media, an online questionnaire was sent to operative dentistry professionals in Pakistan, and 312 responses were received. 81.4% of the respondents believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the level of care provided to the patients, 66% were extremely worried about the risk of contagion during clinical practices, and more than 75% of the respondents opined that the pandemic has led to an increased emphasis on disinfection and oral hygiene instructions. The multiple regression model suggests that the behavior of Pakistani dentists to adhere to the COVID-19 SOPs is significantly affected by their Capabilities (β = 0.358) and Opportunities (β = 0.494). The study concluded that dentists in Punjab, Pakistan are concerned about the risk of contagion and report a serious concern about consequences such as financial loss and inappropriate care of patients. The current study results can feed the policymaking in Pakistan and other developing countries. Facilities and training to improve dentists' opportunities and capabilities can improve their ability to cope with the COVID-19 challenges.
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spelling doaj.art-9f65c7cf332d49fb8a93abf2b1309f5e2022-12-22T00:35:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-06-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.904838904838Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in PakistanSyeda Afshan Manzoor0Abdul-Hakeem Alomari1Department of Operative Dentistry & Endodontics, Bakhtawar Amin Medical & Dental College, Multan, PakistanBiomedical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Dammam, Saudi ArabiaCOVID-19 pandemic has affected dentistry in unprecedented ways. This study investigates the perceived effects of the pandemic on operative dentistry procedures and dentistry profession in Pakistan and the factors that determine the behavioral changes among dentists to adapt to the “new normal.” A Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behavioral model (COM-B) was utilized to investigate the factors that determine the behavior of dentists in Punjab, Pakistan to adhere to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). Using social media, an online questionnaire was sent to operative dentistry professionals in Pakistan, and 312 responses were received. 81.4% of the respondents believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the level of care provided to the patients, 66% were extremely worried about the risk of contagion during clinical practices, and more than 75% of the respondents opined that the pandemic has led to an increased emphasis on disinfection and oral hygiene instructions. The multiple regression model suggests that the behavior of Pakistani dentists to adhere to the COVID-19 SOPs is significantly affected by their Capabilities (β = 0.358) and Opportunities (β = 0.494). The study concluded that dentists in Punjab, Pakistan are concerned about the risk of contagion and report a serious concern about consequences such as financial loss and inappropriate care of patients. The current study results can feed the policymaking in Pakistan and other developing countries. Facilities and training to improve dentists' opportunities and capabilities can improve their ability to cope with the COVID-19 challenges.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.904838/fullCOVID-19COM-B modeldentistryoperative dentistryPakistan
spellingShingle Syeda Afshan Manzoor
Abdul-Hakeem Alomari
Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan
Frontiers in Public Health
COVID-19
COM-B model
dentistry
operative dentistry
Pakistan
title Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan
title_full Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan
title_fullStr Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan
title_short Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan
title_sort modeling the behavioral response of dentists to covid 19 and assessing the perceived impacts of pandemic on operative dentistry practices in pakistan
topic COVID-19
COM-B model
dentistry
operative dentistry
Pakistan
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.904838/full
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