Awareness of Teledentistry Amongst Dental Professionals in India Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Haritma Nigam ◽  
Takshil D. Shah ◽  
Priyanki Saikia ◽  
Aasif Raza ◽  
Ankita Gupta ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Sana Rauf

Aim: The present study aimed to assess anxiety fear and awareness among dentists working during the current Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed using Google Forums in March 2020. A total of 249 participants from different cities across Pakistan participated and submitted the results. The data were entered in IBM SPSS Statistics, version 22 (IBM Corp) for statistical analysis. Results: No significant relationship (P< 0.06)between the participant's responses and gender or their education was established in this study. However, increased anxiety in Pakistani dentists because ofCOVID-19 was seen; 90.0%. A large number(86.7%) of the professionals seemed to be familiar with the revised CDC and WHO guidelines in regards to cross-infection for Coronavirusin dental procedures. However the majority 66.3% reported that they did not use rubber dam isolation in their treatments and only 45% had high-volume suction in their practices to use during treatments. Conclusion: Dentists all around Pakistan are anxious and fearful at work because of the pandemic. It is absolutely vital that only emergency dental procedures are given priority in regards to treatments while all elective procedures should be deferred till the pandemic is under control. Clinical Significance: It is important to identify the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has presented to all dental professionals.


Author(s):  
Maya Ramesh ◽  
Ramesh Krishnan ◽  
Sabarinathan Jaganathan

Introduction: Medical as well as dental professionals are always at an increased risk of contracting infections in pandemics. The novel Coronavirus (nCoV), the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic is more contagious than other known members of Coronaviridae family. Aim: This research aims to evaluate the knowledge, psychological, social, and economic aspects of COVID-19 pandemic among dental professionals using a closed-ended questionnaire study. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study with close ended questionnaire was planned. The questionnaire form was prepared in the Google platform after receiving ethical clearance, with 39 questions under the headings of General Information, Knowledge, Psychological aspects, and Social and Economic aspects. The questionnaire link was circulated among dental professionals known to the research team through Email, WhatsApp, and Messenger. A total of 504 dental professionals participated in this study in five days. Knowledge score was calculated, and psychological stress was calculated using Likert scale. Economic aspect was measured using yes/no answers. Data were entered in an excel sheet and the data obtained were statistically analysed using the SPSS software, version 11.5. Chi-square test was done to evaluate whether there is an association between knowledge score and demographic factors and p-value was obtained. Results: There was almost equal gender distribution of respondents in the study. p-value obtained from chi-square test results correlating knowledge score with various demographic factors was not significant. A 59.9% of study participants were poorly informed on methods used to diagnose COVID-19 infection. A 44.4% of the respondents were psychologically stressed about infecting their family members and 72.22% were economically affected because of their profession. A 98.61% of the participants reported that they will wash their hands frequently, avoid crowded places and cancel travel plans in the near future. Conclusion: The present study evaluated the knowledge, psychological, social and economic aspects of COVID-19 pandemic among dental professionals. We identified that there is an urgent need to intensify the knowledge on COVID-19 and also to give psychological, social and economic support to dental professionals


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-191
Author(s):  
Indumathy Pandiyan ◽  
Meignana Arumugham Indiran ◽  
Pradeep Kumar Rathinavelu ◽  
Arthi Balasubramaniam

Dentists are one among the medical professionals who often encounter complex ethical issues. Playing the role of a health professional, business enterpriser and academician they often run into specific and conflicting ethical demands in practice and research. This cross-sectional study was conducted among dental professionals attached to educational institutions and private practitioners. A total of 95 participants, including private practitioners, faculty members, and post-graduate students, were recruited. A pre-validated, questionnaire containing questions related to awareness and perception in dental ethics was administered. Descriptive statistics was done to report the level of awareness and perception of dental professionals. About 65% of post-graduate professionals had awareness in clinical ethics when compared to undergraduate professionals who had 58% awareness. However, 75% of undergraduate professionals had awareness in research ethics compared to post-graduate professionals with 70% awareness. There was no difference in the perception level among graduate and post-graduate professionals. The awareness of dental ethics varied among dental professionals. There is a need to introduce specific continuing dental educational (CDE) programs to promote knowledge on dental ethics and dental jurisprudence to save dentist and their patients from encountering uneventful situations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoying Duan ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Jialiang Zhao ◽  
Huiyu Yang ◽  
Jinfeng He ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A nomogram is a tool that transforms complex regression equations into simple and visual graphs and enables clinicians and patients to conveniently compute output probabilities without needing medical knowledge and complex formulas. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a predictive nomogram to screen for severe caries among 12-year-old children based on risk factors in Sichuan Province, China. Methods A cross-sectional study of 4573 12-year-olds was conducted up to May 2016 in middle schools from three districts and three counties in Sichuan Province, China. All the children underwent oral examinations and completed questionnaires to assess general information, oral impacts on daily performance, dietary habits, subjective health conditions, history of dental trauma, frequency of toothache, dental visits, and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours toward oral hygiene. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine which variables were significantly associated with severe caries (operationalized as DMFT ≥ 3). A nomogram was developed and validated by using the ‘rms’ package and two cross-validation methods. Results Severe caries was found in 537 of the 4573 children (11.74%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the following variables predicted a higher risk of severe caries: ‘female’ [odds ratio (OR) = 1.985, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.63–2.411], ‘urban’ (OR = 2.389, 95% CI: 1.96–2.91), ‘non-only child’ (OR = 1.317, 95% CI: 1.07–1.625), ‘very poor self-assessment of oral health status’ (OR = 2.157, 95% CI: 1.34–3.467) and ‘visited a dentist less than 6 months’ (OR = 1.861, 95% CI: 1.38–2.505). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also indicated that the following variables predicted a lower risk of severe caries: ‘middle level of urbanization’ (OR = 0.395, 95% CI: 0.32–0.495) and ‘high level of urbanization’ (OR = 0.466, 95% CI: 0.37–0.596). Both the fivefold and leave-one-out cross-validation methods indicated that the nomogram model built by these 6 variables displayed good disease recognition ability. Conclusions The nomogram was a simple-to-use model to screen children for severe caries. This model was found to facilitate non-dental professionals in assessing risk values without oral examinations and making referrals to dental professionals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 816-821
Author(s):  
Joseph George Kallivayalil ◽  
Abilasha R ◽  
Kavitha S

COVID -19 is the most recent pandemic disease that has affected the world's population. We, as health care providers should be more responsible for reducing the transmission of this deadly disease. The aim of the survey was to assess the knowledge and awareness among dental professionals towards COVID -19 and reduce the spread among patients and co-workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 100 dental students by means of a questionnaire, using google forms, results were tabulated and analysed using SPSS. 24.8% prefer and rely on the fact that fever has been the main symptoms of COVID -19 while 32.7% of the respondents prefer on the fact that cough has been the symptoms leading to COVID -19 64% of the dental students are aware on the fact that patients should be checked on their temperature before the consultation. 36.3% of the dental students prefer no checking of temperature before the consultation. The results of the survey showed that some knowledge gaps exist among dental students regarding this very deadly disease and hence is an urgent need for training and conduct complete awareness regarding this deadly disease and control it by essential precautionary methods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7805-7810
Author(s):  
Indumathy Pandiyan ◽  
Meignana Arumugham Indiran ◽  
Pradeep Kumar Rathinavelu ◽  
Arthi Balasubramaniam

Dentists are one among the medical professionals who often encounter complex ethical issues. Playing the role of a health professional, business enterpriser and academician they often run into specific and conflicting ethical demands in practice and research. This cross-sectional study was conducted among dental professionals attached to educational institutions and private practitioners. A total of 95 participants, including private practitioners, faculty members, and post-graduate students, were recruited. A pre-validated, questionnaire containing questions related to awareness and perception in dental ethics was administered. Descriptive statistics was done to report the level of awareness and perception of dental professionals. About 65% of post-graduate professionals had awareness in clinical ethics when compared to undergraduate professionals who had 58% awareness. However, 75% of undergraduate professionals had awareness in research ethics compared to post-graduate professionals with 70% awareness. There was no difference in the perception level among graduate and post-graduate professionals. The awareness of dental ethics varied among dental professionals. There is a need to introduce specific continuing dental educational (CDE) programs to promote knowledge on dental ethics and dental jurisprudence to save dentist and their patients from encountering uneventful situations.


Author(s):  
Kajol Shetty

Background: There is an increase in the number of flight travellers and with it comes the risks of developing in-flight dental conditions that evokes pain at higher altitudes. The knowledge about such conditions are necessary among the dentists to prevent such phenomena. Aim: To assess the knowledge and familiarity about aviation dentistry among dentists. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted among 170 postgraduates and dental professionals in a private dental institution. A pilot study was conducted among 30 individuals, and the questionnaire was validated. Data was analysed by SPSS package 20. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used. Results: 61.8% of the individuals were not familiar with the term aviation dentistry. A statistically significant association was found between familiarity with aviation dentistry and the qualification of the dentists and also between familiarity with aviation dentistry and years of experience of the dentists with a p value < 0.05. Conclusion: The study result shows the lack of knowledge about aviation dentistry among postgraduates and dental professionals.


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