Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemic
Introduction: The coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) had a global impact on health sectors including dentistry. As dental services have to be performed and cannot be withheld for a prolonged period, dentists should prepare themselves to understand the disease process and to face future treatmen...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Saudi Journal of Oral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.saudijos.org//article.asp?issn=1658-6816;year=2021;volume=8;issue=2;spage=90;epage=97;aulast=Oyedele |
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| author | Titus Ayodeji Oyedele Adeola M Ladeji Yewande I Adeyemo Aderonke A Abah Modupe O Coker |
| author_facet | Titus Ayodeji Oyedele Adeola M Ladeji Yewande I Adeyemo Aderonke A Abah Modupe O Coker |
| author_sort | Titus Ayodeji Oyedele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) had a global impact on health sectors including dentistry. As dental services have to be performed and cannot be withheld for a prolonged period, dentists should prepare themselves to understand the disease process and to face future treatment challenges in affected patients to fully resume dental services. There was a need to evaluate the knowledge of dentists on Covid-19 disease process, and readiness in practicing dentistry in this situation.
Aim: This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists in Nigeria towards the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey involving dentists practicing in Nigeria was carried out using the SurveyMonkey™ platform. The link for the questionnaire from the platform was forwarded to dentists individually and on platforms of various oral health-care providers. The questionnaires tested for knowledge, practice, and preparedness of the respondents to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their biodata and practice experiences were also collected. Data were electronically retrieved from the SurveyMonkey platform in Excel spreadsheet and analysis was done; statistical significance was established at P ≤ 0.05.
Results and discussion: A total of 209 dentists participated in the online survey; there were more respondents from the age group of 25 to 34 years. Majority of the participants practiced in the tertiary setting. Over 97% of the respondents first learned about the novel coronavirus through the media; 97.1% agreed that the main mode of spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is through respiratory droplets on close contact, and 91.4% agreed on spread through respiratory droplets on surfaces. Over 35% had no previous training on infection and prevention control (IPC) and 50% of the centers where the respondents practice had no IPC committee. Ninety-nine percent of the respondents have heard about personal protective equipment (PPE), but only 51.5% had PPE in their clinic, while 33.7% of these have had training on the use of PPE. Over 80% of respondents exhibited fear; junior residents were the most fearful, and 67% of respondents from tertiary institutions have limited their procedures during this pandemic.
Conclusion: This study showed that COVID-19 pandemic poses a new threat to dental practices worldwide and Nigeria in particular. Therefore, the practice of dentistry must evolve in the presence of COVID-19. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:47:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc900cf79c174d02989ff8cb614b4b3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1658-6816 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:47:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Saudi Journal of Oral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc900cf79c174d02989ff8cb614b4b3e2022-12-21T21:28:16ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsSaudi Journal of Oral Sciences1658-68162021-01-0182909710.4103/sjos.SJOralSci_59_20Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemicTitus Ayodeji OyedeleAdeola M LadejiYewande I AdeyemoAderonke A AbahModupe O CokerIntroduction: The coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) had a global impact on health sectors including dentistry. As dental services have to be performed and cannot be withheld for a prolonged period, dentists should prepare themselves to understand the disease process and to face future treatment challenges in affected patients to fully resume dental services. There was a need to evaluate the knowledge of dentists on Covid-19 disease process, and readiness in practicing dentistry in this situation. Aim: This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists in Nigeria towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey involving dentists practicing in Nigeria was carried out using the SurveyMonkey™ platform. The link for the questionnaire from the platform was forwarded to dentists individually and on platforms of various oral health-care providers. The questionnaires tested for knowledge, practice, and preparedness of the respondents to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their biodata and practice experiences were also collected. Data were electronically retrieved from the SurveyMonkey platform in Excel spreadsheet and analysis was done; statistical significance was established at P ≤ 0.05. Results and discussion: A total of 209 dentists participated in the online survey; there were more respondents from the age group of 25 to 34 years. Majority of the participants practiced in the tertiary setting. Over 97% of the respondents first learned about the novel coronavirus through the media; 97.1% agreed that the main mode of spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is through respiratory droplets on close contact, and 91.4% agreed on spread through respiratory droplets on surfaces. Over 35% had no previous training on infection and prevention control (IPC) and 50% of the centers where the respondents practice had no IPC committee. Ninety-nine percent of the respondents have heard about personal protective equipment (PPE), but only 51.5% had PPE in their clinic, while 33.7% of these have had training on the use of PPE. Over 80% of respondents exhibited fear; junior residents were the most fearful, and 67% of respondents from tertiary institutions have limited their procedures during this pandemic. Conclusion: This study showed that COVID-19 pandemic poses a new threat to dental practices worldwide and Nigeria in particular. Therefore, the practice of dentistry must evolve in the presence of COVID-19.http://www.saudijos.org//article.asp?issn=1658-6816;year=2021;volume=8;issue=2;spage=90;epage=97;aulast=Oyedelecoronaviruscovid-19dentistryfearinfectionpersonal protective equipment |
| spellingShingle | Titus Ayodeji Oyedele Adeola M Ladeji Yewande I Adeyemo Aderonke A Abah Modupe O Coker Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemic Saudi Journal of Oral Sciences coronavirus covid-19 dentistry fear infection personal protective equipment |
| title | Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Assessment of knowledge, practice, and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in Nigeria toward COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | assessment of knowledge practice and level of preparedness of dentists practicing in nigeria toward covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | coronavirus covid-19 dentistry fear infection personal protective equipment |
| url | http://www.saudijos.org//article.asp?issn=1658-6816;year=2021;volume=8;issue=2;spage=90;epage=97;aulast=Oyedele |
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