Introduction
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), internationally known as the SARS-COV2 virus, is a matter of global public health concern as it could be potentially fatal. 1 On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern.2 The COVID-19 pandemic has affected and continues to affect, several countries in varying degrees of severity. In order to control the pandemic, patients were isolated, and extensive prevention measures were taken.3 Health care workers who are in close contact with COVID-19 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, are at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection.4 Dentistry is one of the riskiest occupations as while providing dental services a large quantity of droplets and suspended particles are created.4 Moreover there is a high possibility of spread of and exposure to blood, saliva, body fluids and respiratory secretions while providing dental services.5, 6 Dental health care professionals(dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and receptionists) need to update their knowledge and skills regarding infection control follow accurate and effective preventive protocols as normal protective measures in daily clinical practice are not effective enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19.3, 7, 8 As valuable and much-needed members of society, health care workers must possess adequate awareness about COVID-19 transmission, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and prognosis.9
Materials and Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all the auxillary staff in a tertiary dental care centre. The Institutional Ethics committee of TD Medical College Alappuzha and Review Board at the Government Dental College, Alappuzha approved the study.
Data collection
The data was collected by an online questionnaire through google forms. The questionnaire prepared was translated to local language (Malayalam) with the help of two language experts proficient in both English and Malayalam. An independent evaluator compared both the versions and finalized a Malayalam version which was then back translated. It includes two parts. The first part includes demographic data, the second part with questions related to the spread, symptoms, diagnosis prevention and safety practices related to COVID-19. The questionnaire along with the consent form was circulated online via google forms. All auxiliary dental staff, who are willing to participate in the study was enrolled, after getting the informed consent attached with the google form. After completion the questionnaire needs online submission only to the investigator. The corrected response was awarded score one.
Results
Table 1
Demographic characteristics of participants
|
Variable |
Count (n) |
Percentage (%) |
|
|
Age (yrs) |
Less than 40 |
15 |
36 |
|
More than 40 |
27 |
64 |
|
|
Gender |
Male |
15 |
36 |
|
Female |
27 |
64 |
|
|
Experience (yrs) |
Less than 5 |
17 |
40.5 |
|
More than 5 |
25 |
59.5 |
|
Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of the study population. A total of 42 participants were included in the study. More than 60% of the participants were above 40 years of age. Among the participants females were the majority (64%). Around 59.5% of the participants have more than 5 years of experience.
Figure 1 shows the overall knowledge of the participants. Around 69% of the participants had good knowledge regarding COVID 19.
Table 2
Awareness of covid 19
Table 3
Overall awareness according to age, gender & experience
Table 4
Mode of transmission of COVID-19 & Age (yrs)
|
|
Incorrect |
Correct |
Total |
P value |
|
|
Less than 40 |
Count (%) |
4 (26.7%) |
11 (73.3%) |
15 (100%) |
0.006 |
|
More than 40 |
Count (%) |
19(70.4%) |
8(26.9%) |
27(100%) |
|
|
Total |
23 (54.8%) |
19 (45.2%) |
42 (100%) |
|
|
Discussion
The human race is threatened by the latest global epidemic caused by Coronavirus disease. 10 SARS-COV-2 is transmitted from person-to-person through inhalation of aerosols from an infected individual.11 Primary preventive measures include regular hand washing, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene (covering mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing).12 A poor understanding of the disease among health care workers can result in delayed identification and treatment leading to rapid spread of infections.13
Our study revealed that 69% of HCWs (n = 29) had good awareness. These results are comparable to some related studies conducted done by Ogolodom et al.,10 Olum et al.,13 Bhagavathula et al.,14 Kamali Haghighi et al15 Nallani VRR et al.,16 Zhong et al17 and Clements JM.18 In our study, total of 42 participants were included. More than 60% (n=27) of the participants were more than 40 years of age. Among the participants females were the majority around 64% (n=27). Around 59.5% (n=25) of the participants have more than 5 years of experience.
Amongst the various questions, regarding the mode of transmission, incorrect response was obtained with 54.8% (n=23) and correct response was obtained with45.2% (n=19). When taken into consideration regarding the age, gender and years of experience; statistically significant results were obtained with age off which 26.7% (n=4) comes under less than 40 years of age and 70.4% (n=19) are above 40 years of age. The choices for the same question included human to human transmission, animal to human transmission, both and heredity. Majority of the responses went in favour of animal to human transmission. This could be because of a confusion sprouting up regarding the source and transmission of infection from the early report of cases. Initial cases reported in Wuhan, China, are considered to be an acquired infection from a zoonotic source from Huanan wholesale sea food market which sold poultry, snake, bats and other farm animals.19, 20
A study revealed, based on relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) on variety of animal species showed that bats are the most probable wildlife reservoir of 2019-nCov.21 Human-to-human transmission occurs through common routes such as direct transmission, contact transmission and airborne transmissions through aerosols and during medical procedures.22
About the current treatment for Covid 19, there was incorrect response of 57.1% (n=24). Correct response was obtained with 42.9% (n=18). Incorrect response was more with those having experience less than 5 years (82.4%, n=14); compared to those with more than 5 years (40%, n=10). Those results were statistically significant with a p value of .01. Regarding the current treatment for Covid 19 the options provided were vaccination, symptomatic treatment, both and no treatment available. Majority voted for symptomatic treatment as by the time the study was conducted; in our place, vaccination was yet to launch. There was more emphasis on symptomatic management for Covid 19 that time.
In the Covid 19 scenario, health care professionals are the frontline warriors. They should be armoured with sound knowledge regarding the various aspects of the pandemic to render adequate services to the affected meanwhile lessening the chances of cross contamination, to safe guard themselves and the society with proper preventive measures. Even though the study has assessed the awareness level in Covid scenario, there are certain limitations of the same. This needs an increase in sample size as well as an elaboration of the questionnaire to include more aspects of the pandemic.
Conclusion
Our study concluded that there is overall good awareness level among the participants of the study. Since the prevalence of Covid 19 cases are significant in the population, update knowledge and skills are utmost mandatory. The findings of the study showed that some notable deficiencies in awareness existed among dental auxiliary staff regarding a few vital aspects of COVID-19. Awareness through social media and health education program somehow solve this. Further studies on the subject are also warranted once the pandemic situation normalizes.
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