Volume 25, Issue 117, November 2021

Perception and dental fear toward dental treatment among Saudi population who received Coronavirus disease-19 vaccine

Afra El Rashid¹, Hadeel Albarkheel^2♦, Sadeem Abahussain², Fai Abahussain³, Arwa Alhassoun²

¹Assistant professor, Restorative Department, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
²Bachelor of Dental Sciences Student, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health and Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
³6th Year Students, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Bachelor of Dental Sciences Student, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health and Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Aim: To assess the perception and fear of Saudi population who took COVID-19 toward dental treatment. Methodology: A cross-sectional pilot questionnaire study with 32 questions was distributed from 18 June, 2021 till 30 June, 2021 via social-media platforms. In addition, the inclusion criteria were Saudi, above 18 years old, and who took COVID-19 vaccine. A questionnaire included sociodemographic data, COVID-19 fear scale, dental clinic avoidance structured questions, and perception scale. After developing and translating the questionnaire into Arabic, Google Form was used to create an anonymous, self-administered web-based survey. For the categorical variables, descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and percentages were calculated using SPSS. Result: A total of 580 participants completed the survey; however, 48 were excluded because they did not fit with our inclusion criteria. In regarding to the fear of COVID-19, majority of male disagree with the fear of COVID-19 statements and have less fear than female (P<0.05). Yet, in one statement Q4 people with higher income were more afraid to lose their life (P<0.05). Furthermore, Educational-level and income were two variables that showed a significant relationship with P=0.05 in terms of perception. Conclusion: Fear scale after getting the vaccine is becoming less and people started seeking dental treatment with different concerns other than pain or emergency. Educational-level and income were the cause of different perceptions in participants. Although participants with postgraduate education mainly agree that dental office has strict disinfection route, but the dentist can get and transmitted COVID-19 from/ to the patient.

Keywords: COVID-19, perception, dental fear, dental treatment, COVID-19 vaccine.

Medical Science, 2021, 25(117), 2987-2997

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