Socio-Economic Impact and Fear of Infection During COVID-19 PandemicAmong General Dentists - A Survey

Background Viruses that cause Coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 SARS-CoV-2 are abundantly present in the nasopharyngeal and salivary secretions of infected individuals and spreads through respiratory droplets aerosols and fomites. COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered societyrsquos perception of healthcare professionals in social settings. As a result doctors faced numerous hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.nbspAimnbspTo evaluate fear of infection and the socio-economic impact of COVID -19 pandemic among dentists.nbspObjectivesnbspTo determine the fear of infection as well as the social and economic impact of the COVID -19 pandemic among dentists.nbspMethodologynbspA survey was conducted among 255 general dentists through online Google forms. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions categorized into knowledge attitude and practice with five questions per category.nbspResultsnbspGeneral practitioners MDS-50.6 BDS-49.4 were included as the study participants. The response rate of the questionnaire was 92.72. The mean age was 35.07 plusmn 8.09 years. The study participants in both the groups demonstrated better knowledge attitude and practice. MDS practitioners demonstrated better knowledge attitude and practice compared to BDS practitioners.nbspConclusionnbspIn this study MDS practitioners exhibited greater knowledge attitude and practice in managing COVID-19 situations compared to BDS practitioners.