Assessment of dental professionals' maintenance of management practices developed and incorporated during COVID-19 pandemic - a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of emerging public health problems for the past few years. Due to its contagious nature, health care professionals especially dentists, incorporated various modifications in their practices to prevent themselves and their patients from the risk of getting infected.

Objective: The present study aims to assess whether dental professionals are still continuing with those modifications in practice in current times.

Materials and methods: The present study was conducted on 415 subjects after getting due approval from concerned authorities and consent from the subjects. Systematic random sampling methodology was employed for selection for study sample. The study employed a self-constructed questionnaire which was divided into 2 parts and information regarding demographic profile, practice modifications and safety protocols was gathered from subjects. Statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-square test and multiple regression analysis.

Results: Only 8.6% of subjects were currently continuing with their all previous practice modifications. A vast majority of subjects (83.8%) were not deferring treatment of patients showing suspicious symptoms. Approximately 89% of subjects were not sanitizing the operating area at the end of the working day. More than two-thirds (76.4%) of the subjects stated that the pandemic was over. Female gender (OR:1.67) and high level of education (OR:2.45) had an important effect on the continuation of practice modifications.

Conclusion: Very few subjects were adhering to all practice modifications previously incorporated. Dental professionals should not let their guard down even if COVID-19 cases have reduced considerably. The information collected will be useful for the dental community and further studies should be carried out.