Covid-19 Awareness Among Dental Specialists, Dental Interns And Dental Auxiliaries In Tertiary Dental Health Centres In Kerala State, India – A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The practice of dentistry involves the use of rotary instruments such as airotor handpieces, ultrasonic scalers and air-water syringes which can generate aerosols with suspended microbes. DHCPs (Dental health care professionals) constitute a high-risk group for COVID -19. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study aims to investigate the awareness of COVID-19 among the dental specialists, dental interns and dental auxiliaries in tertiary health care centers in Kerala State, India. A 17 point questionnaire was distributed in the six Government dental colleges in Kerala State. The responses received were stratified into three categories dental specialists, interns and auxillaries. Chi-square test was used to assess responses to knowledge statements between the participants. Difference in mean knowledge scores between the categories of DHCP’s and sources of COVID-19 information was assessed using ANOVA Results: The response to questions 1,2.4,5,6,7,9,11,12,13,15 and 17 were found to be statistically significant (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: An adequate level of knowledge about the COVID 19 was observed among dental specialists , interns and auxiliaries in tertiary health care setting in Kerala state. During COVID 19 pandemic, the efforts put forward by the health authorities of Kerala to increase the awareness about COVID 19 among DHCPs in tertiary health care setting was exemplarary. Timely disseminating educational videos, educational brochures, and social media updates for health care practitioners were found to be effective . Key Word: COVID-19, Awareness, Specialists, Interns, Auxillaries --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 10-12-2020 Date of Acceptance: 25-12-2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I. Itroduction The COVID -19 outbreak which initiated from Wuhan in China in December 2019 has rapidly spread globally to affect nearly all continents except Antarctica. WHO has declared COVID -19 as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 and as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID -19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 which is one of the seven types of coronavirus. Experts have regarded it to be more alarming than SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The virus is primarily spread between people during close contact most often via small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or talking. Less commonly people may get infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their face. Droplets usually fall to the ground or onto surfaces rather than travelling through air over long distances. It is most contagious during the first three days after the onset of symptoms although spread is possible before symptoms appear and from asymptomatic cases. Symptoms usually occur 2-14 days after coming into contact with the virus. The main symptoms of COVID -19 include fever (99%), fatigue (70%), dry cough (59%), loss of appetite (40%), body ache (35%), shortness of breath (31%), mucus/phlegm (27%). Other symptoms may include difficulty in breathing, chills, headache, sore throat, stuffy nose, loss of smell or taste, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea. Grave complications including pneumonia, respiratory failure, septic shock, and death have been reported. Strokes Covid-19 Awareness Among Dental Specialists, Dental Interns And Dental Auxiliaries In . DOI: 10.9790/0853-1912122632 www.iosrjournal. org 27 | Page have also been reported in some people. The odds of more serious symptoms are higher for children less than 5 years of age, older individuals above 65 years of age and underlying health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. Amongst persons suffering from COVID-19, around 80% require no treatment as such and will recover on their own. Around less than 20% persons may need hospitalization and only an exceedingly small proportion basically suffering from chronic illness may need admission in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). There is no known vaccine or specific antiviral treatment till now. Primary treatment is symptomatic and supportive therapy. Recommended preventive measures include hand washing, covering one’s mouth during coughing, maintaining social distancing, wearing face mask in public settings, monitoring and self-isolation for people who suspect they are infected. Authorities worldwide have responded by implementing lockdowns, travel restrictions, workplace hazard controls and facility closures. Also, increased testing capacity and contact tracing of infected persons have been implemented. Misinformation about the virus has spread through social media and mass media. The COVID -19 pandemic resulted in misinformation and conspiracy theories about the scale of the pandemic and the origin, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. The present study was designed to assess the awareness of COVID-19 among the dental specialists, dental interns and dental auxiliaries in tertiary health care centers in Kerala State, India. RATIONALE OF THE STUDY The practice of dentistry involves the use of rotary instruments such as airotor handpieces, ultrasonic scalers and air-water syringes which can generate aerosols with suspended microbes. DHCPs (Dental health care professionals) constitute a high-risk group for COVID -19. Patients visiting dental setting for their routine/ emergency treatments and DHCPs can serve as a reservoir for COVID -19. A well-informed DHCP on COVID -19 may not only be a prominent source to promulgate correct knowledge in the community but may also aid to create a haven for colleagues and patients. It is hypothesized that the online dissemination of educational materials by various international authorities such as Centre for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and regional authorities like Directorate of Medical education (DME), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala have kept the DHCPs in Kerala well informed. II. Material And Methods The cross-sectional study aims to investigate the awareness of COVID-19 among the dental specialists, dental interns and dental auxiliaries in tertiary health care centers in Kerala State, India. Such information would prove valuable feedback to the regulatory authorities. Study Design: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study Study Location: This study was conducted among the dental specialists, interns and auxiliaries in six tertiary dental health care centres in Kerala state, India Study Duration: October 2020 to December 2020. Sample size: 773 responses Sample size calculation: Sample size was calculated using the formula:n= 4pq/d 2 Sample size(n) for dental specialists was estimated as 248 (d=4%) Sample size(n) for interns was estimated as 241 (d=6%) Sample size(n) for dental auxiliaries was estimated as 274 (d=6%) Procedure methodology The questionnaire comprises of 17 points pertaining to the knowledge on COVID-19. The qualification level of DHCPs was ascertained. The questionnaire was initially subjected to pilot testing to evaluate face and content validity, For content validity, the questionnaire was administered to three subject experts (Department of Community medicine and, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Department of Periodontics and Department of Community dentistry, Government Dental College, Kozhikode) who had a clear understanding of the current COVID-19 guidelines. The questionnaire was then administered to 20 DHCPs in Government Dental College, Kozhikode. The difficulty they will face in comprehending the questions will be recorded. The questionnaire will be then subjected to Test retest (with a time gap of one week) reliability and Cronbach’s alpha value was obtained. The questionnaire was then administered to the six Government Dental colleges in Kerala state and the response was then entered in excel . The data was entered in SPSS software version 20. Covid-19 Awareness Among Dental Specialists, Dental Interns And Dental Auxiliaries In . DOI: 10.9790/0853-1912122632 www.iosrjournal. org 28 | Page Statistical analysis Chi-square test was used to assess responses to knowledge statements between the participants. Difference in mean knowledge scores between the categories of DHCP’s and sources of COVID-19 information was assessed using ANOVA. III. Result The total number of participants for the current study were 773 (N) . The study population was then stratified into three groups; specialist (259), interns (240) and dental auxiliaries (274). Chi-square test was used to assess responses to knowledge statements between the participants. Difference in mean knowledge scores between the categories of DHCP’s was assessed using ANOVA.