Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) among Pediatric Dentists during Lockdown Period

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid dissemination of health information.
• Understanding how pediatric dentists acquired and perceived COVID-19 information is crucial for effective public health communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 among pediatric dentists.
• To identify the influence of information sources on their understanding of COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 23-question self-administered questionnaire.
• Data were collected from 291 pediatric dentists categorized into postgraduate residents, private practitioners, and faculty.
• Statistical analysis compared knowledge and perception scores based on occupation and information source.

Main Results:

• Overall good mean scores for knowledge (9.2 ± 1.07) and perceptions (5.6 ± 1.5) were observed.
• Health authorities were the primary source of COVID-19 updates for 45% of participants, followed by social media (35.1%).
• Significant differences in reliance on information sources were found across different pediatric dentist groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Pediatric dentists generally possess sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19.
• Information source, age, and occupation influenced COVID-19 knowledge, while age and gender affected perceptions.
• Health authorities were more effective in educating pediatric dentists about COVID-19 compared to social media.