Author(s): Muhammad Hammad, Omer Sefvan Janjua, Muhammad Shehroze Khan, Waqas Ashraf, KhurramJah Zafar, Sana Mehmood, Qurat-ul-Ain Amina and Rida Awan
Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the awareness and attitude of dental practitioners towards COVID-19 while providing dental treatment.
Introduction: Observational cross sectional study.Oral and maxillofacial surgery department, PMC Dental Institute Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad.
Materials and methods: Questionnaire was developed by dental experts and literature search and was shared by google docs. The data was collected on specially designed Performa. The data of the registered dental practitioners of the Punjab region as acquired from PM&DC database. The practitioners were given a reminder call to submit the Performa.
Results: From overall 68 participants, 83.8% had view to defer dental treatment in incubation period, 88.2% thought that our standard protocols are inefficient. Only 25.0% had knowledge that infection couldn’t transfer through sharp instrument impact. Those who voted for transfer between mucous membrane and contaminated hands were 94.1%. The 98.5% percent said that hand hygiene is not sufficient to prevent spread, so some of them were using more precautions. The 73.5% opted for treatment by using goggles, specific respirators and PPEs. Some of the practitioners following pre check measures are (88.2%) and those who said rinsing reduces microbial load are 89.7%. The 20.6% believed that it is of group B and 80.9% thought they should use protection level as of group A. 86.8% participants agreed on dealing with only dental emergencies during pandemic.
Conclusion: According to this study most of the dental practitioners are unaware of exact protection protocols and health authorities should take aggressive steps in educating the dental practitioners for infection control management related to COVID-19.
