scholarly journals Ebola outbreak preparedness and preventive measures among healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (08) ◽  
pp. 829-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid M. Almutairi ◽  
Abdulaziz Alhomaidi Alodhayani ◽  
Mahaman Moussa ◽  
Ahmad E. Aboshaiqah ◽  
Regie B. Tumala ◽  
...  

Introduction: As medical professionals on the front lines in the outbreaks of infectious disease like Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), healthcare providers must have sufficient knowledge, skills, and best practices to protect themselves and the public from the disease. The purpose of this study is to identify the level of awareness, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers in relation to precautionary measures to EVD. Methodology: A total of 177 physicians and 545 nurses participated in a descriptive cross-sectional study from a tertiary government hospital in Saudi Arabia. All subjects answered a self-administered questionnaire focusing on their level of awareness, concerns, and clinical practice related to EVD. Results: Majority of the participants were knowledgeable about the etiology, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, and treatment of EVD. All of the participants had high levels of concern about EVD (p=0.001) and about the implementation of strict standard infection control precautionary measures. The study found that greater infection control measures were taken by the participants including frequent hand washing, use of personal protective equipment, and avoiding normal activities such as going to work, school, travel, etc. if fever symptoms appear. Conclusion: A combination of evidence based knowledge about EVD and high levels of concern of healthcare providers in relation to precautionary measures to EVD are the main factors leading to strict compliance with the infection control measures recommended in this study. Additionally, healthcare providers must be trained in infection control and adhere to the universal infection control standard guidelines to facilitate prevention and precaution.

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 489-497
Author(s):  
Mona Rajeh

Background: The recent outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has affected millions of lives in different countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Due to the characteristics of dental practice settings, there is a high risk of infection transmission between patients and dentists. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the level of public knowledge, attitude and practice regarding COVID-19 and infection control when visiting a dentist. Methods: In April 2020, a web-based cross-sectional survey was distributed randomly among the public through social media platforms. A validated anonymous questionnaire was used to assess knowledge about COVID-19 and participants’ attitudes toward extra measures to prevent the spread of infection. Results: Among the completed questionnaires (N=521), the mean age of the participants was 36.24 years, 68.3% were women, 87.5% held a university degree, and 81% were from the Makkah region. Most of the participants (99%) obtained a good knowledge score regarding COVID-19. Women were more likely than men to have more knowledge (p<0.05). Nearly all of the participants (99.6%) demonstrated good attitudes towards precautionary measures in dental clinics. Spearman’s rho test showed a statistically significant correlation between age and attitude score, suggesting that attitude score increased with age (p<0.05). Overall, 73.3% reported that they would maintain good hygiene practices when visiting a dentist during this pandemic. Conclusion: Most Saudi residents with a high education level are knowledgeable about COVID-19, hold promising attitudes, and have appropriate practices towards precautionary measures needed while visiting a dental clinic during the virus outbreak.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 479-486
Author(s):  
Tahani M. Alharbi ◽  
Afrah M. Alharbi ◽  
Rafal K. Khayyat ◽  
Jawaher B. Aldaadi ◽  
Ibtesam K. Afifi

Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease caused by an RNA virus named SARS CoV2. The increased risk of infection by this virus among dental students necessitates updated knowledge and highlights their important role in preventing and controlling its transmission. Objective: This study aims to assess knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding COVID-19 and infection control measures among dental students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students in different Saudi universities using an online self-administered questionnaire. It gathered data on students’ demographic information, knowledge of COVID-19 and infection control measures, risk perception and attitudes toward the disease, and their preparedness for treating infected patients. Results: A total of 327 dental students responded to the questionnaire. Of these students, 92.4% had received training in infection control in dental practice, but only 24.2% had attended training regarding COVID-19. The majority of students had adequate knowledge regarding the modes of transmission and the common symptoms of COVID-19, with statistically significant total mean knowledge scores among students in different academic years (p<0.05). A large percentage of the students (92.7%) agreed that the use of rubber dams or high-volume saliva ejectors could reduce the possibility of transmitting infection. However, 58.4% of the students disagreed that intraoral dental radiographs should be avoided to reduce the possibility of transmitting infection. Conclusion: Although knowledge of and risk perception concerning COVID-19 among students is good, additional training sessions integrating recent international guidelines for infection control are required to update their knowledge and achieve safe dental practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (D) ◽  
pp. 61-67
Author(s):  
Rawa Kamal Abdelrahim ◽  
Husham Abu Elgasim Abdoun ◽  
Pradeep Koppolu ◽  
Lingam Amara Swapna

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is an infectious respiratory disease causing different symptoms ranging from mild to more complicated cases. In dental clinics, there is a potential risk of cross-infection between dental health worker and patients. Therefore, new infection prevention measures have been recommended to minimize spread of COVID-19 in dental clinics. AIM: The aim of this study is to get an insight into the infection control measures followed by dentists and modification done in personal protective equipment (PPE) to combat spread of infection during COVID-19 in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional data using online Google survey. The sample included dentists working in either private or government from different regions in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Chi-square test was used to investigate the association between categorical variables (p < 0.05) RESULTS: Seventy dentists included in the study of which 40% are working in Riyadh. Dental clinics are undertaken respiratory triage and reduce number of patients in waiting area (91% and 98%, respectively). Increased usage of PPE (head cap, face shield, and N95 mask) during the pandemic was observed in the study sample (p = 0.001). Working hours and number of patients were reduced during COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Evidence shows that majority of dentists working in KSA are following recommended measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Some dentists modified their PPE during the pandemic. However, further research is required to investigate adherence to infection control measures by dentists.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Silva ◽  
Silvia Palomino ◽  
Ada Robles ◽  
Jorge Ríos ◽  
Frank Mayta-Tovalino

Introduction. The level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to infection control measures in undergraduate stomatology students is not well understood; that is why these variables were evaluated in the students of the Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista between September and November of 2017.Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 347 students from the Ica, Lima Norte, and Chorrillos campuses were evaluated. The sample was calculated using the statistical formula of comparison of means. The questionnaire of the CDC (Center of Contagious Diseases) was used to measure the variables described.Results. It was observed that 72.05% of the students preferred to use oral rinsing before starting a treatment, 72.62% used the autoclave as the primary equipment to sterilize their instruments in the dental clinic, 95.10% considered that isolation is important in the control of the infection, 46.40% affirmed that tuberculosis is the most infectious disease, and only 26.51% considered it to be hepatitis B. On the other hand, it was found that the scores of knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 2.74 ± 2.16, 3.59 ± 0.88, and 3.59 ± 1.73, respectively.Conclusions. The level of knowledge was low among the students evaluated; however, as far as the level of practices and attitudes was high, even so, this topic must be reinforced so that stomatology students reflect on the importance of the risks that exist to get infected with any disease inside the dental office, as outside of it.


Author(s):  
Ruba M. Mustafa ◽  
Ruwaida Z. Alshali ◽  
Dalea M. Bukhary

As antiviral vaccines are still pending for the COVID-19 disease, improving dentists’ knowledge and prevention measures is important. This study aimed to assess dentists’ knowledge, attitude, and perception of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia during the early outbreak period. In addition, infection control measures for dental setting were also assessed. Online questionnaire was distributed to dentists in different regions of Saudi Arabia when COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia was at its beginning. The questionnaire was assessing demographic variables, knowledge, attitude, risk perception, and preparedness towards COVID-19. Questions regarding infection control measures were also included. The correct incubation period of the virus was recognized by 43% of participants. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath were the mostly recognized symptoms for COVID-19 (98.9%, 95.5%, and 93.3% respectively). Participants in age groups ≥60, 50–59, and 20–29 years old were more likely to perceive COVID-19 as a very dangerous disease compared to 30–39 and 40–49 age groups. Dentists in Saudi Arabia showed satisfactory knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19. Improving dentists’ level of knowledge could be achieved through increasing their accessibility to materials provided by dental health care authorities, which specifies the best and safest approaches for dealing with patients during and after the outbreak.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1593
Author(s):  
Kyoko Yoshioka-Maeda ◽  
Yuka Sumikawa ◽  
Noriha Tanaka ◽  
Chikako Honda ◽  
Riho Iwasaki-Motegi ◽  
...  

This cross-sectional study aimed to (1) describe the unclassified contents of telephone consultation services provided by a public health center during the first wave of COVID-19 in Japan and (2) examine whether the contents required assistance from public health nurses (PHNs). We analyzed a total of 207 calls in which the purpose of the call was unclassified into pre-set categories. PHNs transcribed the exact text of the consultation conversations recorded from 25 March to 20 April 2020 in City A. Approximately half of the calls were from residents. Seven categories were extracted through a qualitative content analysis. The most common topic was infection control measures, where the presence of COVID-19 infection was assumed (n = 62); the second most common was extreme anxiety and fear of infection (n = 50). Questions about the COVID-19 response system (n = 30), discrimination and misunderstandings about COVID-19 (n = 24), and response measures for COVID-19 outbreaks within organizations (n = 18) were also included. The unclassified consultations included various topics, several of which required the expertise of a PHN. Each local government should consider sharing and task-shifting telephone consultation services among PHNs and other staff to reduce their burden and allow them to concentrate on conducting infection control more effectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-177
Author(s):  
Ramand Haji ◽  
◽  
Dana Abdilkarim ◽  
Salar Ali ◽  
Srwa Mohammad ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: Nurses can prevent the occurrence and transmission of noso-comial infections by following infection control measures such as wearing gloves and masks, using appropriate disinfection of skin and preventing accidental needle-stick inju-ries. This research aimed to evaluate the availability of hospital uniforms, personal protec-tive equipment, and infection control activities at hospitals in Sulaimani in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and to examine nurses’ experience of nosocomial infections. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional study was performed at 10 governmental hospi-tals during the period from 20th February to 28th September 2018. 525 nurses were se-lected as participants by a convenience sampling method. A self-administrated question-naire was used to collect data, which were analysed using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that 268 nurses (51%) reported that their hospitals provided sufficient uniforms to all the medical staff and the majority of nurses, 444 respondents (84.6%) stated that they were responsible for cleaning their working uniforms. 441 nurses reported that they did not acquire a nosocomial infection, and 479 (91.2%) did not have an accident during their work in the hospital. 79.9% of the nurses (404) reported recapping syringe needles after the usage, and 98 (18.7%) gave a low rating to the infection control unit activity in their hospitals. Finally, more than half of nurses (330) representing 62.9% of the sample were vaccinated against nosocomial infections. Conclusions: Most of Sulaimani governmental hospitals are providing sufficient uniforms for the health staff, the majority of nurses were vaccinated against one or more nosocomi-al infections, and the majority of nurses do needle syringe recapping.


2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne Turnberg ◽  
William Daniell ◽  
Terri Simpson ◽  
Jude Van Buren ◽  
Noah Seixas ◽  
...  

Objectives.To identify healthcare worker (HCW) and work-site characteristics associated with HCWs' reported use of recommended respiratory-infection control practices in primary and emergency care settings.Design.A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire for HCWs during the summer and fall of 2005.Setting.Primary and emergency care clinics at 5 medical centers in King County, Seattle, Washington.Results.Nurse professionals who reported receiving training (odds ratio [OR], 2.5 [confidence interval {CI}, 1.1–5.9]; P = .029), instructional feedback from supervisors (OR, 3.0 [CI, 1.5–5.9]; P = .002), and management support for implementing safe work practices had a higher odds of also reporting adherence to recommended respiratory precautions, compared with nurses who did not. Training was the only important determinant for adherence to respiratory precaution measures among medical practitioners (OR, 5.5 [CI, 1.2–25.8]; P = .031). The reported rate of adherence to hand hygiene practices was higher among nurse professionals who were male (OR, 2.2 [CI, 1.0–4.9]; P = .045), had infants, small children, or older adults living at home (OR, 2.2 [CI, 1.2–3.9]; P = .007), reported cleanliness and orderliness of the establishment where they worked (OR, 2.0 [CI, 1.1–3.5]; P = .019), had received respiratory-infection control training (OR, 3.2 [CI, 1.8–6.0]; P<.001), and reported fears about catching a dangerous respiratory infection at work (OR, 2.3 [CI, 1.2–4.5]; P= .011).Conclusion.A number of HCW and work-site characteristics associated with HCWs' use of recommended respiratory-infection control measures have been identified. These potentially influential characteristics should be considered as targets or guides for further investigation, which should include the evaluation of intervention strategies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 07 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S015-S019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betul Rahman ◽  
Sheela Balu Abraham ◽  
Amna Mohammed Alsalami ◽  
Fatima Eisa Alkhaja ◽  
Shaikha Ibrahim Najem

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate compliance, awareness and practices of infection control procedures among senior dental students at the College of Dentistry, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Materials and Methods: The study comprised of 119 subjects of 4 th and 5 th year dental students. A questionnaire was developed with 25 open and closed-ended questions related to barrier techniques, vaccination status, infection control practices and awareness. This was distributed among the senior dental students and completed upon signing the consent form. Each questionnaire was coded to ensure the confidentiality of responses. Results: The questionnaire was distributed among 223 senior dental students at the University of Sharjah of which only 119 students (53%) responded. Compliance with the use of protective barriers was high with the exception of protective eye wear, utilized by a mere 27% of students. There was a significant difference between 4 th and 5 th year dental students′ attitudes (p < 0.05) regarding the treatment of patients with infectious diseases. Compared with 44.4% of the 5 th year students, 68.5% of the 4 th year students did not mind treating patients with infectious diseases. Owing to this, 61.9% of the 5 th year students suffered from non-sterile percutaneous and mucous membrane exposures compared with 44.6% of the 4 th year students (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Efforts are needed to improve attitudes, implement information and motivate students in the correct and routine use of infection control measures. With all infection control protocols already implemented in dental schools, the challenge remains on improving compliance with infection control recommendations.


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