Date of Award

12-2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MS in Epidemiology & Biostatistics

First Advisor

Dr. Shafquat Rozi

Second Advisor

Ms. Maryam Lakhdir

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: Dentists are at the highest risk for being affected by COVID-19 due to the highly susceptible nature of dental setup for promoting transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus by multiple ways. Therefore, dentists can play a key role in mitigating the spread of virus. This can only be made possible if dentists responsibly follow dental practice guidelines issued by local government as well as those declared internationally. It is imperative to identify the level of knowledge Pakistani dentists have regarding issued guidelines to what extent do they adhere to them.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed from 17th October to 10th November, to assess the knowledge and practices of Pakistani dentists regarding resumption of dental practice amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted via an online questionnaire circulated across Pakistan. 230 dentists all over Pakistan participated in this study. Knowledge and adherence were assessed according to scores achieved by answering knowledge and practice questions correctly in a structured, close-ended, web-based questionnaire, that had been developed considering recent dental practice guidelines by global and local regulatory bodies. Factors impacting the knowledge and practice scores of dentists were also assessed by using regression models.
Results: Out of the 230 participants, 58% were female, whereas maximum response came from Sindh province (68%). 48% respondents were post-graduates. 44% of the total responders were clinical practitioners. 6 participants achieved a knowledge score of 24, maximum being 26. Whereas 12 participants achieved the maximum practice score of 28. Source of information regarding COVID-19, having formal infection control training and age were some significant predictors of knowledge and practice scores.
Conclusion: Although most dentists were able to achieve high knowledge and practice scores, there were gaps in COVID-19 specific knowledge and practices. Despite presence of national guidelines on resumption of dental practices, dentists lack in some aspects of stringent infection control for COVID-19. Regular monitoring and awareness of dental health care practitioners should be done by officials to curb the spread of corona virus from dental settings.

First Page

1

Last Page

61

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