Dentists' awareness, perception, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and infection control: A cross- sectional study among Jordanian dentists

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Despite the availability of prevention guidelines and recommendations on infection control, many dental practices lack the minimum requirements of infection control. .

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, perception, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and infection control among Jordanian dentists

METHODS
The study population consisted of dentists who work in private clinics, hospitals, and health centers in Jordan. An online questionnaire was sent to a sample of Jordanian dentists in March 2020. The questionnaire comprised a series of questions about dentists’ demographic characteristics, their awareness of incubation period, the symptoms of the disease, mode of transmission of the COVID-19, and infection control measures for preventing COVID-19, and their attitude toward treating patients with COVID-19. Results

RESULTS
This study included a total of 368 dentists aged from 22 to 73 year with a mean (SD) of 32.9 (10.6) year. A total of 112 (30.4%) had completed a master or residency program in dentistry, 195 (53.0%) had received training in infection control in dentistry, and 28 (7.6%) had attended training or received lectures regarding COVID-19. A total of 162 (44.0%) dentists reported that the incubation period is 7-14 days. The majority of dentists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms and ways of how to identify patients at risk of having COVID-19, were able to correctly report known modes of transmission and were aware of measures for preventing COVID-19 transmission in dental clinics. A total of 275 (74.7%) believed that it is necessary to ask patients to set far from each other, wear masks while in the waiting room, and wash hands before getting in the dental chair to decrease disease transmission. Conclusion

CONCLUSIONS
Jordanian dentists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms, mode of transmission, infection control and measures in dental clinic. However, dentists had limited comprehension of the extra precautionary measures that protect the dental staff and other patients from COVID-19. National and international guidelines should be sent by the regional and national dental associations to all registered dentists during crisis, including this COVID -19 pandemic, to make sure that dentists are well informed and aware of the best practices and recommended disease management approaches.

Full text

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
Dentists’ awareness, perception, and attitude
regarding COVID-19 and infection control: A cross-
sectional study among Jordanian dentists
Yousef Khader, Mohannad Al Nsour, Ola Barakat Al-Batayneh, Rami Saadeh,
Haitham Bashier, Mahmoud Alfaqih, Sayer Al-Azzam, Bara’ Abdallah AlShurman
Submitted to: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
on: March 19, 2020
Disclaimer: © The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community
review. Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for
review purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a CC BY license on publication, at this
stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
Table of Contents
Original Manuscript ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
Dentists’ awareness, perception, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and
infection control: A cross-sectional study among Jordanian dentists
Yousef KhaderSCD, ; Mohannad Al NsourPhD, ; Ola Barakat Al-BataynehFRACDS, ; Rami SaadehPhD, ; Haitham
Bashier; Mahmoud AlfaqihPhD, ; Sayer Al-AzzamPhD, ; Bara’ Abdallah AlShurmanMSc,
Corresponding Author:
Yousef KhaderSCD,
Phone: +962796802040
Email: yskhader@just.edu.jo
Abstract
Background: Despite the availability of prevention guidelines and recommendations on infection control, many dental practices
lack the minimum requirements of infection control. .
Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, perception, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and infection control
among Jordanian dentists
Methods: The study population consisted of dentists who work in private clinics, hospitals, and health centers in Jordan. An
online questionnaire was sent to a sample of Jordanian dentists in March 2020. The questionnaire comprised a series of questions
about dentists’ demographic characteristics, their awareness of incubation period, the symptoms of the disease, mode of
transmission of the COVID-19, and infection control measures for preventing COVID-19, and their attitude toward treating
patients with COVID-19.
Results: This study included a total of 368 dentists aged from 22 to 73 year with a mean (SD) of 32.9 (10.6) year. A total of 112
(30.4%) had completed a master or residency program in dentistry, 195 (53.0%) had received training in infection control in
dentistry, and 28 (7.6%) had attended training or received lectures regarding COVID-19. A total of 162 (44.0%) dentists reported
that the incubation period is 7-14 days. The majority of dentists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms and ways of how to
identify patients at risk of having COVID-19, were able to correctly report known modes of transmission and were aware of
measures for preventing COVID-19 transmission in dental clinics. A total of 275 (74.7%) believed that it is necessary to ask
patients to set far from each other, wear masks while in the waiting room, and wash hands before getting in the dental chair to
decrease disease transmission.
Conclusion: Conclusions: Jordanian dentists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms, mode of transmission, infection control and
measures in dental clinic. However, dentists had limited comprehension of the extra precautionary measures that protect the
dental staff and other patients from COVID-19. National and international guidelines should be sent by the regional and national
dental associations to all registered dentists during crisis, including this COVID -19 pandemic, to make sure that dentists are well
informed and aware of the best practices and recommended disease management approaches.
Conclusions: Jordanian dentists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms, mode of transmission, infection control and measures in
dental clinic. However, dentists had limited comprehension of the extra precautionary measures that protect the dental staff and
other patients from COVID-19. National and international guidelines should be sent by the regional and national dental
associations to all registered dentists during crisis, including this COVID -19 pandemic, to make sure that dentists are well
informed and aware of the best practices and recommended disease management approaches.
(JMIR Preprints 19/03/2020:18798)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.18798
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https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
Original Manuscript
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
Dentists’ awareness, perception, and attitude regarding COVID-19 and infection control: A
cross-sectional study among Jordanian dentists
Abstract
Introduction
     

               !"#        
$
Methods

$ %$ &'('(
              )      
 !
"#            !"#      
 !"#
Results
*+,''-*./0*'#."(+0
%""'.*(120"#3.3*(20
                  ',  .-+20        
 !"#%"+'.11(20
-!"14 !"#
         !"#      
 !"#%
'-3.-1-20 
          

Conclusion
$ !"#
56
 !"#7
  
 !"#

https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
Keywords:  !"#
Introduction
Background
 !"#8
 
  /%9/!    &:9/!# ;"<  %       !!    
&
6
=5 >% /55?
  
 !"#;'<
COVID-19 and dental treatment
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;*<6


;1<% !"#

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3".#32 133,0;3<"1;+-<
!
        B    6     !"#          
     !"#
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   
    C  .0   %    %  .%%0     8 5
B.850  !"# ;,!"(<D
                  
!
                          
                         
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
)=
=;",<
Objectives
           
                        
6

;"""'<$
A
                       

          5                 
 !"#$
Methods
Study population
   $    
&'('(%
 E 
 @       $
 %              $              
$%
      3      A $   
    $      $            $
)   8        3      -((          
@5         
>$
                      
: 
9?$F/
Study Instrument
G            
;",!"(<:
!
 !"#  !
      H  )         
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
)
 !"# !"#)
 !"#
Data analysis
/C//./C//0
&

Results
Participants’ characteristics
*+,.'13"'*0
3'+2.*,+-((0''-*
./0*'#."(+0I"*(./0
#1.,#0""'.*(120"11.*#"20
1,.'',20',.-+20)
    "%   ""'.*(120         
"#3  .3*(20        ', .-+20 
 !"#
"*+,
Variable n %
E
@ '13 +++
& "'* **1
%.0
J*( "## 31"
K*( "+# 13#
I
J3 ",3 3(*
3!"( 3# "+(
L"( "'1 **-
9
& "#( 3"+
7 "1, 1('
/ *( ,'
5
F ""' *(1
& ', -+
C "11 *#"
C ,1 '',
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
Awareness about incubation period, symptoms, and mode of transmission of the COVID-19
infection
8   "+'.11(20  -!"1"**
.*+"20  '!"1  +" ."++20  -!'"   "' .**20   
'!- !
"#'4.M*+*#,+20.M**3
#"(20$
    - ."#20  %  "'- .*1320    
  !"#    8    
          !"#  *"+.,3#20
*1-.#1*20
     6      !"#   *13 .#*,20     
 
.'0
')
 !"#
Variable n %
 N N
'!"1 "** *+"
'!- "' **
-!"1 "+' 11(
-!'" +" "++
/ !"#
@ *+* #,+
 **3 #"(
/ *"+ ,3#
 "1- *##
 ""# *'*
9 "** *+"
/ "(3 ',3
9 ', -+
/9 '" 3-
$> - "#
&
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
B *** #(3
5 *"3 ,3+
 *1* #*'
Awareness of measures for preventing COVID-19 transmission in dental clinics
4!
.*31#+'20
.*1-#1*20.*1'#'#20
               !"#     
*%.*3##-+20


*)  !"#     

Measures for prevention COVID-19 transmission n %
@          !  

*31 #+'
9

*1- #1*
C      

*1' #'#
C *'3 ,,*
 %          

*"( ,1'
% *(1 ,'+
 C            

',1 --'
Perception of COVID-19
%  +3 ."--20   !"#   '+1.-"-20  
*3.#320%."*3*+-20
   !"#       4.*+(  #-,20
 !"#
Attitude toward treatment of patients with COVID-19
&.'(*33'20 !"#
      9  )   
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
'-3.-1-20

,(.'"-20
5 *(1.,'+20
 !"#
             B          A  "+"
.1*,20           >"-
.1+20>",'
.1#320>
&%""#.*'*20
    ='"1.3,'20    
                        6        
 !"#'-#.-3,20
 !"#
@'1#.+--20
 !"##1.'3320

Discussion
$
 !"#'('(
$@
6$
$%;"*<
 !"#3+"1;+-<8
      
  
;"1<5)
)
       ;"3<    ;"+< 
6     ;1< 7 $   
 !"#B
 ;"1<
     ;"<       
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
>

        6                    

;#<
= !"# !
"# ;,< !"#
A                        A  
                   ;"-<      
A
!=
 !"#.-"-20
  !"#    %
=6
OP$ )
.'"-20)
 
54.,'+20
 !"#
;"<
B
 A  1*,2       > 1+2
   1#32         /
.*'*20!
 !"#     
     C    
;,<
C
 "1
"1  !"#!
;",< 
.3,'206
 !"#-3,2
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
       !"# ?         
       !"#   ?    
B
;",<%1!
 4           ;" #< 
    4  .#-,20           
 !"#
    %%                     

                            
=6=B
I
B &                  


B
Conclusion
$ !"#
56
      !"#  E

             !"#                

References
" & D  5 @ ?  Q     '("#  . !"#0H  :   @
&$9'('(C& H*'"+'##3H
"(""-->((''(*13'(#"1'1+
'  7R %  5%  /  /   %R %  ?&  !  
HR
R%BBF5$/%$ C5
'("-'("->(->(">A"(.10H1*,!13HH>>>"("("+>44'("+(+(('
* ?7*1(("*
'('(;&1'('(<
https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]

JMIR Preprints Khader et al
1 Q/58D4%%!
        CD/    '("-A"'.30H("-,((-  C& H  ',3*"",*  H
"("*-">4("-,((-
3 D/%EBR5?G$@RQG&59 C
  '("# . !"#0@C 9  H:
%% &'('(H"(-*'+>'(!(3(1
+ ?$%R8$ '("#.'("#!
08   '(!',  $ '('(:/'('(
@A'3.30C& H*'(1+,"#H"(',(->"3+(!-#"-'('('33'((((+'
- D G E S8C 8 SQ  DI   :  
87= C7:$&'('(
H"("(3+>7:$&'(("*"+
, 8 5  B .850      
.0H '('(;"*
&  '('(<A  %  H H>>>!>!!!
!!!!!!!.0!!!
#  C.0  E9
9 !"#/57
  C    5  CA  '('(  ;  &  ""  '('(<A  %  H
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"( %  %  .%%0@ %G  '('(
;&"+'('(<A%H H>>>>!>>
!!!
"" &  $  E  9  B  5              
/TC?B$ '(""('>("A"3
H"("3#(>/"1"*!,+-('(""((("((((#
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"1 E?:&%!%%%%%%/@@%%R&R
&:9/!%!/%/&$
'("#$A1(.-0H-"1!'(C& H*"',-"**H"("33*->4'("#-'1*(1
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%
9/%$:6'("+A,.10H*-#!
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"+ %&% %G %%%!E /& / & %!% &5 ? 55%
              !  !      &:9/
/%?& '("-A"-."0H1!C& H',(1#11(H"("",+>"',-#!
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"- 8    5  ?  5    Q  @  D  S  Q  $            "*,
5BC8'("#7= C8$%&%
'('(A*'*.""0H"(+"!#H"("((">4'('("3,3
", %  % .%%0 %%   
  '('(  ;  &  "+  '('(<A  %  H
H>>>>>!>'('(!>>!!!
!!U
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https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/18798 [unpublished, non-peer-reviewed preprint]