Dentists' Perceptions of Personal Infection Control Measurements in Response to COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Infection Control
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated stringent biosafety measures in dental practices globally.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use became a critical component of infection control for dental practitioners (DPs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore dental practitioners' perceptions of challenges in implementing COVID-19 biosafety measures, particularly PPE use.
• To understand the factors influencing the adoption and adaptation of biosafety guidance in dental settings across different countries.

Main Methods:

• Focus groups (FGs) and an in-depth interview were conducted with DPs from Colombia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze data, identifying deductive and inductive categories related to biosafety implementation.

Main Results:

• DPs evaluated guidance documents based on indemnity, staff, and patient considerations.
• In the absence of a single guideline, DPs filtered information to determine "implementable" PPE levels for their local practice.
• A total of 25 DPs participated across 3 FGs and 1 interview.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based practice implementation in dentistry is often modified by practical feasibility.
• Understanding how guidance is translated into practice is crucial for effective infection control strategies.