DENTAL PATIENTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, BEHAVIORS, AND FEAR FOR COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 is a pandemic that threatens public health worldwide. Dentists working at great risk play an important role in protecting public health against the coronavirus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dental patients’ knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and fear for COVID-19. A self-report questionnaire-based survey was conducted from 10.26.2020 to 01.12.2021. 1110 dental patients were recruited to the survey who applied to the Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology of XXXX University Dental School. The survey was divided into 4 divisions: the first part patient’s knowledge about COVID-19, the second division attitudes, the third division the patient’s behavior, fourth part patient’s fear for COVID-19. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated for the reliability of the COVID-19 Fear scale. Significance was evaluated at the p <0.05 level. 84.6% of the participants think that COVID-19 can be transmitted by aerosol. 94.1% of the participants see COVID-19 as a risk for their health, 93.3% think that their social life is affected. 46.3% of patients only want to have emergency dental treatment and postpone their dental care, and only 7% apply to the clinic for the aesthetic process. Women have a higher fear level of COVID-19 than men. The knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the patients who applied to the dentomaxillofacial radiology were found positive towards COVID-19. Dental health professionals should take extra measures in dental clinics to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and more efforts should be made to improve public knowledge, attitude, and behavior.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• knowledge
• attitude
• behavior
• fear

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