Examination of the Knowledge Levels, Attitudes and Anxiety Sources Regarding Coronavirus Disease-2019 Infection in Dentistry Students in Clinical Practice

Year 2021, Volume: 22 Issue: 1, 69 - 76, 30.04.2021

Hümeyra Tercanlı , Selin Yeşiltepe , Elif Kurtuldu

https://doi.org/10.4274/meandros.galenos.2021.97769

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine and evaluate the knowledge levels, attitudes and anxiety sources regarding coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection in dentistry students in clinical practice.
Materials and Methods: Fourth- and fifth-year dentistry students of Aydın Adnan Menderes University and Akdeniz University were selected for this study. For data collection, a questionnaire survey was performed. The questionnaire contained 34 items on demographic data, knowledge level about COVID-19 infection and attitudes and anxiety sources about their education. Descriptive statistical methods and the Pearson chi-square test were used to analyse data. P<0.05 was statistically significant.
Results: A total of 137 students, including 75 females (54.7%) and 62 males (45.3%), participated in the study. Significantly higher levels of negativity and anxiety due to COVID-19 was found in female participants than in male participants, based on their responses to the following questions: “Do you believe that the lack of face-toface training due to COVID-19 will negatively affect your working life?”; “Do you worry about graduating having completed clinical practice without direct patient care?”; “Do you worry about practising your job because of the coronavirus?” and the p values were found 0.019, 0.002 and 0.009, respectively. The answers for these questions were not related to the graduation degree.
Conclusion: The results reveal that female students demonstrated higher stress levels than male students based on the responses to some questions. Moreover, responses to the same questions were not related to the graduation degree. Further larger studies will give more accurate outcomes.

Keywords

Dentistry , education , COVID-19

References

• 1. Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, Zhou L, Tong Y, et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus–infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med 2020; 382: 1199-207.
• 2. Sahin AR, Erdogan A, Agaoglu PM, Dineri Y, Cakirci AY, Senel ME, et al. 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: a review of the current literature. EJMO 2020; 4: 1-7.
• 3. World Health Organization. [https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answershub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answershub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19) Site accessed on 10.05.2020.
• 4. Egloff MP, Ferron F, Campanacci V, Longhi S, Rancurel C, Dutartre H, et al. The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus replicative protein nsp9 is a single-stranded RNA-binding subunit unique in the RNA virus world. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2004; 101: 3792-6.
• 5. Vennema H, Godeke GJ, Rossen J, Voorhout WF, Horzinek MC, Opstelten D, et al. Nucleocapsid‐independent assembly of coronavirus‐like particles by co‐expression of viral envelope protein genes. The EMBO journal 1996; 15: 2020-8.
• 6. Du Toit A. Outbreak of a novel coronavirus. Nat Rev Microbiol 2020; 18: 123.
• 7. Al-Maweri SA, Tarakji B, Shugaa-Addin B, Al-Shamiri HM, Alaizari NA, AlMasri O. Infection control: Knowledge and compliance among Saudi undergraduate dental students. GMS Hyg Infect Control 2015; 10: 10.
• 8. Singh A, Purohit BM, Bhambal A, Saxena S, Singh A, Gupta A. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding infection control measures among dental students in Central India. J Dent Educ 2011; 75: 421-7.
• 9. Al-Shamiri HM, AlShalawi FE, AlJumah TM, AlHarthi MM, AlAli EM, AlHarthi HM. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Dental Students and Interns in Saudi Arabia. J Clin Exp Dent 2018; 10: 54-60.
• 10. Alharbi G, Shono N, Alballaa L, Aloufi A. Knowledge, attitude and compliance of infection control guidelines among dental faculty members and students in KSU. BMC Oral Health 2019; 19: 7.
• 11. Karcıoğlu Ö. What is Coronaviruses, and how can we protect ourselves? Phnx Med J 2020;2: 66-71.
• 12. Lorosa AH, Pereira CM, Hussne RP, Silva-Boghossian CM. Evaluation of dental students’ knowledge and patient care towards HIV/AIDS individuals. Eur J Dent Educ 2019; 23: 212-9.
• 13. Myers JE, Myers R, Wheat ME, Yin MT. Dental students and bloodborne pathogens: occupational exposures, knowledge, and attitudes. J Dent Educ 2012; 76: 479-86.
• 14. Brondani M, Donnelly L. COVID-19 pandemic: Students’ perspectives on dental geriatric care and education. J Dent Educ 2020; 84: 1237-44.
• 15. Quadri Mir FA, Jafer MA, Alqahtani AS, Al mutahar SAB, Odabi NI, Daghriri AA, et al. Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) awareness among the dental interns, dental auxiliaries and dental specialists in Saudi Arabia: A nationwide study. J Infect Public Heal 2020; 13: 856-64.
• 16. Atas O, Yildirim TT. Evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and clinical education of dental students about COVID-19 pandemic. Peer J 2020; 8: e9575.
• 17. Bogoch II, Watts A, Thomas-Bachli A, Huber C, Kraemer MUG, Khan K. Pneumonia of unknown aetiology in Wuhan, China: potential for international spread via commercial air travel. J Travel Med 2020; 27: 8.
• 18. Lu H, Stratton CW, Tang YW. Outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China: The mystery and the miracle. J Med Virol 2020; 92: 401-2.
• 19. Sabino-Silva R, Jardim ACG, Siqueira WL. Coronavirus COVID-19 impacts to dentistry and potential salivary diagnosis. Clin Oral Investig 2020; 24: 1619-21.
• 20. Prati C, Pelliccioni GA, Sambri V, Chersoni S, Gandolfi MG. COVID-19: its impact on dental schools in Italy, clinical problems in endodontic therapy and general considerations. Int Endod J 2020; 53: 723-5.
• 21. Meng L, Hua F, Bian Z. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Emerging and Future Challenges for Dental and Oral Medicine. J Dent Res 2020; 99: 481-7.
• 22. Hoda J. Identification of information types and sources by the public for promoting awareness of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. Health Educ Res 2016; 31: 12-23.
• 23. Ge ZY, Yang LM, Xia JJ, Fu XH, Zhang YZ. Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2020; 21: 361-8.
• 24. DeFrancesco L. Whither COVID-19 vaccines? Nat Biotechnol 2020; 38: 1132-45.
• 25. Ikhlaq A, Bint-E-Riaz H, Bashir I, Ijaz F. Awareness and Attitude of Undergraduate Medical Students towards 2019-novel Corona virus. Pak J Med Sci 2020; 36: 32-6.
• 26. Coulthard P. Dentistry and coronavirus (COVID-19) - moral decision-making. Br Dent J 2020; 228: 503-5.
• 27. Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci 2020; 12: 9.
• 28. Kearney RC, Premaraj S, Smith BM, Olson GW, Williamson AE, Romanos G. Massive Open Online Courses in Dental Education: Two Viewpoints: Viewpoint 1: Massive Open Online Courses Offer Transformative Technology for Dental Education and Viewpoint 2: Massive Open Online Courses Are Not Ready for Primetime. J Dent Educ 2016; 80: 121-7.
• 29. Cao W, Fang Z, Hou G, Han M, Xu X, Dong J, Zheng J. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Res 2020; 287: 112934.
• 30. Talo Yildirim T, Dundar S, Bozoglan A, Karaman T, Dildes N, Acun Kaya F, et al. Is there a relation between dental anxiety, fear and general psychological status? PeerJ 2017; 5: 2978.
• 31. Divaris K, Mafla AC, Villa-Torres L, Sánchez-Molina M, Gallego-Gómez CL, Vélez-Jaramillo LF, et al. Psychological distress and its correlates among dental students: a survey of 17 Colombian dental schools. BMC Med Educ 2013; 13: 91.
• 32. Jowkar Z, Masoumi M, Mahmoodian H. Psychological Stress and Stressors Among Clinical Dental Students at Shiraz School of Dentistry, Iran. Adv Med Educ Pract 2020; 11: 113-20.
• 33. Milward MR, Cooper PR. Competency assessment for infection control in the undergraduate dental curriculum. Eur J Dent Educ 2007; 11: 148-54.