Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices of
dental professionals regarding the prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) in Pakistan.
Materials and Methods General dentists and dental specialists working in public and private dental practices,
hospitals, and academic institutions participated in this cross-sectional study. A
pilot-tested questionnaire was sent to dental professionals through an online link
in Pakistan and data collection was completed in April-May 2020. The knowledge score
was calculated from 22 variables about the COVID-19.
Results The study included data of 343 dental professionals with 47.2% of males and 52.8%
of females. The mean knowledge score was 16.78 ± 2.25, and it significantly differed
between general dentists (16.55 ± 2.36) and dental specialists (17.15 ± 2.04) (p = 0.020), and those with up to 10 years of experience (16.58 ± 2.28) and those with
more than 10 years of experience (17.05 ± 2.2) (p = 0.026). Only 15.5% of the participants were comfortable in treating patients during
the COVID-19 pandemic. A workshop/seminar on the COVID-19 was attended by 23% of the
participants. In multivariate analysis, being comfortable in treating patients (odds
ratio = 3.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.63, 6.73) was associated with the attendance
of workshop/seminar on COVID-19.
Conclusions Dental professionals had adequate knowledge about COVID-19, but a few of them were
comfortable in treating patients during the pandemic. A minority of dental professionals
attended a workshop/seminar on the COVID-19. Continuous education activities should
be provided to dental professionals to enhance their role in the prevention of COVID-19
spread and promotion of oral health.
Keywords
COVID-19 - pandemic - dental professionals - continuing education - awareness
