AN ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY TO ASSESS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SCREENING OF PATIENTS, PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND STERILIZATION PROTOCOL IN PRIVATE DENTAL CLINICS POST COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Paromita Mazumdar*, Sayantan Mukherjee and Tanmoy Saha
ABSTRACT
Background: The pandemic of COVID-19 has tremendously affected
dentistry as a whole. Dentistry has become one of the peak professions
at risk of transmission of the virus. Aim: This survey aims to analyze
the concerns associated with COVID-19 among the dental surgeons of
West Bengal. Methodology: A sample of 305 participants (dentists)
was taken after assessing the sample size. The participants comprised
of dentists practicing in various parts of West Bengal. A questionnaire
was created on Google forms and circulated to participants using
various social media platforms. The data of responses of participants
were analyzed and evaluated with the help of pie charts. Results: This
survey analyzed the major concerns of dental surgeons and tried to
evaluate the various areas of anxiety. Majority of the participants
believed that dentists were at higher risk of contracting the virus than any other healthcare
professionals and they also would be a major reason for transmitting the infection to their
patients. The also believed the fact that wearing PPE did not guarantee them complete
protection against the virus. Majority of the dentists felt that the pandemic has affected
dentistry as a career and that practicing dentistry amidst COVID19 was not safe. Conclusion:
This questionnaire-based survey clearly helped in assessing the common concerns among the
dental surgeons of West Bengal associated with COVID-19. Although the pandemic posed
various drawbacks and threats to the profession of dentistry, it still stands out being one of
the most lucrative specialties of health.
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