Awareness of clinical protocol for dental setting and the Information sources used among Indian Dental undergraduates amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: The world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. In wake of the pandemic, standard guidelines were formulated for dental clinical setting by the World Health Organization and other national health agencies. 

Aim: To assess the level of Awareness of clinical protocol for dental setting and the Information sources used among Dental students and interns amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A multi-centric cross sectional survey was conducted in 7 dental colleges of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. A total of 340 (85% response rate) dental students and interns participated in this study. A self-designed pre-validated English language questionnaire containing 19 items was used, which was distributed electronically using Google Forms. Level of awareness and source of information about Covid-19 were the two domains assessed in our study.

Results: Ninety-three percent students were aware of the modes of transmission of COVID-19. Seventy-Eight percent students were aware of the protocol for Personal protective equipment donning and doffing. Fifty-one percent of the participants had social media as their first source of information about COVID-19, 25.6% chose television, 7.1% chose family members, 5.3% chose World Health organization & Indian Dental Association websites, and only 2.1% chose scientific articles and government websites (1.2%) as the first source of information. Only 19.7% participants were sufficiently aware of the clinical protocol in dental settings.

Conclusion: Undergraduate students were aware of the general information related to the spread of corona virus. Social media was their primary source of information. A large proportion of students are unaware of standard guidelines related to patient care in dental practice.