Dental Students' Perceptions Regarding Bioterrorism; a Cross-Sectional Study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Dental Education
• Emergency Preparedness

Background:

• Dental professionals' critical role in mass casualty incidents, highlighted during COVID-19.
• The potential impact of bioterrorism necessitates understanding healthcare providers' readiness.
• Dental students' perceptions are crucial for future public health workforce preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess dental students' willingness to serve during a bioterrorism attack.
• To evaluate dental students' knowledge of bioterrorism.
• To explore perceptions of dentists' roles in bioterrorism response.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design utilizing anonymous self-administered questionnaires.
• Survey distributed to all dental students and interns at King Abdulaziz University.
• Bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses employed to examine factors influencing willingness and knowledge.

Main Results:

• 83.8% of 472 dental students and interns expressed willingness to provide care during a bioterrorism attack.
• Mean bioterrorism knowledge score was 3.3 out of 5; higher GPAs correlated with perception of expanded dental roles.
• Fourth- and fifth-year students demonstrated lower bioterrorism knowledge compared to interns.

Conclusions:

• Most dental students are willing to engage in bioterrorism response despite curriculum gaps.
• A strong consensus exists among students for incorporating bioterrorism education into dental programs.
• Enhanced curriculum is vital for preparing dental professionals for bioterrorism threats.