Misconceptions regarding dental health care: A cross sectional study

Objectives With the increasing severity of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is essential that dental health care professionals (DHCPs) are prepared. The study aim was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19 among DHCPs in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study using a web-based survey was conducted. A validated and reliable questionnaire was developed that comprised 44 questions. Using Qualtrics survey software, DHCPs working in different settings were approached across five geographical regions of Saudi Arabia. Results A total of 318 respondents voluntarily participated in the survey. Most DHCPs showed a moderate level of knowledge (51.6%), a positive attitude (92.1%) and adequate practice standards (86.5%). We found that 94.7% of DHCPs had an adequate overall level of KAP. DHCPs with a doctorate significantly outscored DHCPs with other educational levels with respect to knowledge and practice. Older (51–60 years) DHCPs reported significantly more knowledge than younger DHCPs. Conclusion DHCPs displayed an average level of knowledge that needs to be enhanced through continuing education programmes. However, they showed a positive attitude and an acceptable level of practice, as they were abiding by guidelines issued from various international and national health agencies.

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Unmet dental health care needs in Serbia

Srpski medicinski casopis Lekarske komore ◽

10.5937/smclk2-32309 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 43-51

Author(s):

Jovana Todorović ◽

Nataša Popović ◽

Pavle Piperac ◽

Slavica Đurđević-Todorović ◽

Zorica Terzić-Šupić

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Status ◽

Dental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Care Needs ◽

Care Needs ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dental Health Care ◽

Status Characteristics ◽

The Republic

Aim: The aim of this study was the analysis of the social and health status characteristics of the population with unmet dental health care needs. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 20,069 respondents from the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) in the Republic of Serbia in 2014. Results: Nearly every sixth citizen (16.1%) reported unmet dental health care needs. Participants between the ages of 27 and 44 years (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.21 - 1.82), and between 45 and 64 years (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.19 - 1.86), participants who assessed their health status as: good (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.63 - 2.25), fair (OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 2.64 - 3.77), bad (OR: 3.65, 95% CI: 2.94 - 4.53), or very bad (OR: 4.22, 95% CI: 3.10 - 5.74), had a higher likelihood of reporting unmet dental health care needs. The most frequent reasons for unmet dental health care needs were financial obstacles to the accessibility of dental health care (66.6%) and fear or treatment (15.1%). Conclusion: The study found associations between unmet dental health care needs and social and health status characteristics. Health policy should adopt a multidimensional approach and eliminate barriers which restrict the accessibility of dental health care.

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