Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, Practice among Dental Practitioners during Covid-19 Crisis in South Indian Population - A Questionnaire Based Survey

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has thrown the world into a great deal of health care crisis, with over 2 million people affected globally and more than 1,50,000 deaths. Testing is crucial to gauge the extent of transmission with the currently having the lowest ratio of testing in the world. It is of crucial importance that healthcare workers specially dental practitioners should have adequate knowledge, attitude and practice protocol to prevent any transmission to take place. A Questionnaire-based survey was done among 200 dental practitioners in the South Indian region in which 133 dental practitioners responded. The survey was distributed through electronic media (Google forms). The survey data was collected, analyzed and interpreted. The results suggested that about 80% of Dental practitioners have adequate knowledge and attitude towards the different protocols to be followed during the COVID-19 crisis in their dental practice. Still, there was a lack of recommended practice protocol by these practitioners during the pandemic crisis in the South Indian population. The survey shows that dental practitioners have a sound knowledge, attitude, but the practical application during the pandemic crisis was seen to be varied among various dental practitioners.