A descriptive study on Bulgarian preclinical dental students’ knowledge and attitude towards coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ precautions and cross-infection control practices

BACKGROUND AND AIM: One year after the novel coronavirus pandemic, there is a sustained risk of further global spread and most countries continue to impose preventive measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹). The current situation outlined a specific reformulation of dental education in Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria – initial transition of face-to-face classes towards electronic learning (e-learning) processes, and subsequently, a transition from online teaching toward hybrid education. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate preclinical dental students’ knowledge and attitude towards COVID-۱۹ precautions as well as cross-infection control strategies.METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted online on ۲۵۸ out of ۵۱۶ preclinical dental students at the School of Dental Medicine, Sofia, using a self-administered questionnaire. Survey items were grouped in ۳ general sections: educational experiences, students’ knowledge and perceptions of COVID-۱۹ precautions and sources of relevant information as well as students’ personal experiences during the current pandemic.RESULTS: A total of ۱۶۹ students participated in the study (response rate: ۶۵.۵%). Of them, ۹۸ (۵۷.۹%) were second-year students, ۴۲.۶% were men, and their mean age was ۲۱ ± ۱ years. Almost one-third of the participants indicated violation of disinfection and sterilization protocols (۲۸.۹%) and the presence of aerosol-generating procedures (۲۷.۲%) as the most important COVID-۱۹ predisposing factors in dental practice. Vaccination was suggested as the most effective way of prevention against the COVID-۱۹. Proposed infection control practices included strict cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization (۸۷.۶%), personal protective equipment (PPE) (۸۵.۸%), frequent ventilation (۵۳.۳%), and treatment after a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (or other) test (۴۶.۲%). Social media was considered as the main source for pandemic-related information (۶۸.۰%).CONCLUSION: In the light of COVID-۱۹, dental students demonstrated a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding standard precautions in dental practice; however, more attention should be paid to additional transmission-based precautions to ensure the safety of educational and working environment.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، cross infection ، Dental students ، hybrid education ، Prevention and control