Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal

Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal

Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Dentists and Dental Students Regarding Patient Evaluation and Infection Control Principles during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fatemeh Babadi 1
Samira Shahsiah 2
1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
10.22118/jsmj.2025.537462.3956
Abstract
Background and Objectives Given the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus (SARS
CoV-2), dental healthcare providers are at particularly high risk of infection and transmission
due to close contact with patients and the use of aerosol-generating procedures. This study
aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dentists and dental students regarding
patient evaluation and adherence to infection control principles during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Subjects and Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study included 363 individuals from
across the country. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire with acceptable
reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.7 in all dimensions).
Results The findings showed that participants had an appropriate level of knowledge in
various dimensions, including patient management, clinical services, and environmental
engineering. There was a significant positive correlation among different questionnaire
dimensions. Variables such as age, work experience, and participation in educational
webinars were significantly associated with overall scores, whereas gender and educational
degree showed significant differences only in certain areas, such as practice.
Conclusion The results indicate that continuous education, particularly through targeted
webinars, plays an important role in enhancing dentists' preparedness for future
epidemiological threats. Moreover, strict adherence to protective protocols and minimizing
aerosol production can help reduce the risk of transmission in dental settings.
Keywords
Dentistry
COVID-19
Infection Control
Aerosol
Knowledge
Attitude
Practice
Health protocols
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  • Receive Date 28 July 2025
  • Revise Date 08 October 2025
  • Accept Date 14 October 2025