Abstract

EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND PREPAREDNESS AMONG GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONERS, HOUSE SURGEONS AND POST GRADUATES OF DENTAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IN SOUTH INDIA DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC: AN ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE BASED SURVEY

Vivekananda Marenahally Rangaraju*, Bindu James and Harsha Mysore Babu

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 virus can spread through respiratory droplets, via the mucous membrane of the mouth, nose, and eyes. Using handpieces and ultrasonic instruments during dental procedures leads to the generation of blood and saliva droplets which can contaminate the dental instruments and subsequently the surrounding environment. Therefore, both dental practitioners and dental patients could be at risk of being infected. Hence, this survey aims to evaluate the knowledge about COVID 19 pandemic among the house surgeons, post graduates and general dental practitioners and to know how the dental community have prepared for it. Methodology: A sample of 2000 participants was involved in the study. The participants comprised of dentists practicing in South India. A questionnaire was created on Google forms and circulated to participants using WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and E‑mails. The data of responses of participants were analyzed and evaluated with the help of pie charts. Results: The participants were aware of the protocols issued by CDC and DCI, contents of a complete PPE kit and pre-procedural mouth rinsing. Only 64.8% were willing to treat a suspected COVID-19 patient even with all the necessary precautions. The participants preferred the dentist/staff to be subjected to routine rapid tests for COVID-19. A vast majority of them were of opinion that every dentist should be vaccinated. Conclusion: The survey showed that the dental fraternity is well equipped to fight the pandemic while continuing to provide their services in the field of health care services.

Keywords: COVID 19, Questionnaire, Survey, Pandemic.